Russia combat crews launch new satellite into space

RUSSIA'S Space Force has launched a new satellite into space that promises greater accuracy than ever before.

The footage shows the Soyuz-2.1b medium-class rocket blasting off from the launchpad at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region, in north-western Russia, at 09:18 UTC - at 12:18pm Moscow time, according to Russian state-owned news agency TASS - on Thursday, 7th July.

It is Russia's ninth rocket launch overall this year and the fifth military launch so far, with the footage, which was obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD), showing the large space rocket bearing the now infamous letter 'Z' on its side, blasting off into space.

The 'Z' is one of the symbols that is often seen painted on Russian military vehicles taking part in the invasion of Ukraine.

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