The Russian-Ukrainian Zenit-2SB carrier rocket with a Russian-made meteorological satellite Elektro–L2 and an upper-stage rocket Fregat-SB was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Russian Space Agency's (Roskosmos) spokesperson said Friday.

The Zenit-2SB, a Russian-Ukrainian medium-lift two-stage rocket, was being jointly produced at the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau in Dnepropetrovsk. The joint production of these rockets is currently suspended.

"The Zenit carrier rocket was launched at an estimated time — 16:45 Moscow time [13:45 GMT]. The order on the Elektro–L2 separation from an upper-stage rocket is expected to be given at 01.43 a.m. [10:43 GMT] Moscow time December 12," the spokesperson told RIA Novosti.

The Elektro–L2 space laboratory provides meteorological services for a regional and global weather forecast, as well as a climate change monitoring.