MOSCOW

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Friday the launch of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the northern Arkhangelsk region.

The ministry said the launch was conducted by the Russian Aerospace Forces in its interest.

"On May 17, 2024, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome (Arkhangelsk Region), a Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with a spacecraft on board was launched in the interest of the Defense Ministry," the ministry said in a statement.

This is the third launch from Plesetsk this year. In February, the ministry said it placed a new military satellite into orbit, and in March, it conducted a successful test launch of the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile.