Russia successfully launched eight military reconnaissance satellites on February 5, 2026, aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The satellites, designated Kosmos 2600 through 2608, are believed to be Razdan-class signals intelligence (SIGINT) spacecraft designed to monitor electronic communications and radar emissions. The mission continues Russia's ongoing efforts to maintain and upgrade its military space surveillance capabilities in low Earth orbit.

The Soyuz-2.1b, an upgraded variant of Russia's workhorse launch vehicle, departed from Plesetsk, located in northwestern Russia. This launch site remains a primary facility for Russian military and government space operations, serving as an alternative to the more internationally known Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The successful deployment of these eight spacecraft underscores Russia's commitment to sustaining its space defence infrastructure despite international tensions and potential sanctions. The addition of these Razdan satellites expands Russia's real-time intelligence gathering network and reinforces its military space posture during a period of geopolitical uncertainty.