A Russian Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket laden with two defense satellites was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northwest Russia on Saturday, Sputnik quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as saying.

It is the second launch of Soyuz-2.1b since late December 2013.

"A new Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with two spacecraft in the interests of the Russian Defense Ministry was launched from the Aerospace Forces’ Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 5:09 p.m. [14:09 GMT]," the Defense Ministry’s press service said.

The Volga booster with two defense satellites successfully separated from the second stage of the rocket carrier, the press service added.

Sources: MENA