On February 28, 2021, at 06:55:01 UTC, launching teams of Roscosmos subsidiaries launched the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with the Fregat upper stage from pad No. 6 of site No. 31 of the Baikonur cosmodrome. The rocket carried the first Arktika-M spacecraft for monitoring climate and environment in the Arctic region.

According to telemetry information, the liftoff, rocket stages and the upper stage separation went nominally. In accordance with the flight schedule, the Fregat upper stage continued injecting the spacecraft into the final orbit; its separation is expected 2 hours and 19 minutes after the liftoff. After reaching the final orbit, the satellite will be handed over to the customer's control.

The Arktika space system of hydrometeorological and climate monitoring is designed to monitor the climate and environment in the Arctic region. The system requires two satellites for functioning. They will provide round-the-clock all-weather monitoring of the Earth's surface and the seas of the Arctic Ocean.

A modification of Soyuz-2, the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle was created at the Progress Rocket and Space Center (part of the Roscosmos). Compared to Soyuz-2.1a version, it has a more powerful third stage engine. The Soyuz-2.1b has higher launch accuracy, stability and controllability than the previous version, as well as carries increased payload.