Russian military spacecraft launched into orbit

The launching of the Soyuz-2 1a medium-class carrier rocket from the Plesetsk seaport in Archangel on Saturday morning is, like the large Russian naval drill taking place from the Syrian port of Tartus, in line with Moscow’s military steps concerning the Ukraine crisis, say DEBKAfile’s analysts.

“The Soyuz rocket delivered a military satellite in the interests of the Russian Defense Ministry. The spaceship was put into orbit by the Fregat booster,” the ministry said in a statement.