Russia launches Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying spacecraft from Plesetsk Cosmodrome

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that the Russian Space Forces successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket carrying a spacecraft from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

The launch took place at 5.40 am Moscow time (0240GMT) from the Defense Ministry’s Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region, the ministry said in a statement.

"The launch of the Soyuz-2.1b medium-class launch vehicle with a spacecraft was carried out in the interests of the Russian Defense Ministry," it said.

The launch was carried out by a combat crew of the Space Forces of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, according to the ministry, which did not disclose the type or purpose of the spacecraft.