The Russian Aerospace Forces have successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1b medium-lift launch vehicle carrying satellites designated for the Russian Defence Ministry from the Plesetsk Space Centre in the Arkhangelsk Region, the Ministry of Defence confirmed on Friday, 17 April 2026.
According to an official statement issued by the ministry, an Aerospace Forces space crew conducted the launch as scheduled, with all phases of the mission proceeding nominally. Following lift-off, the Soyuz-2.1b rocket was continuously tracked by the space centre’s ground-based measurement systems, which confirmed the vehicle’s trajectory and performance throughout its ascent.
“The launch of the carrier rocket proceeded as planned,” the ministry stated, adding that at the designated moment, the spacecraft were successfully inserted into their target orbit and formally handed over to the control of ground assets operated by the Aerospace Forces’ space troops.
Stable telemetry communication has since been established with all spacecraft aboard the mission, and onboard systems have been confirmed to be functioning normally, the ministry further noted. No anomalies were reported at any stage of the operation.
The Plesetsk Cosmodrome, one of Russia’s primary military launch facilities, has served as a cornerstone of the country’s strategic space programme for decades. The Soyuz-2.1b, a modernised variant of the storied Soyuz rocket family, is routinely employed for the deployment of military and dual-use satellites into medium and high Earth orbits. Friday’s mission underscores Russia’s continued commitment to maintaining and expanding its sovereign space-based defence capabilities amid an increasingly competitive global space environment.
The nature and specific functions of the satellites placed into orbit were not disclosed by the Defence Ministry, in keeping with standard operational security protocols governing military space launches.
Find more details at Sputnik International.