The first GLONASS-K2 satellite finally reached the launch status in the middle of 2023, or a decade behind the original schedule. At the end of July 2023, the adminstration of the Safronovskoe settlement in the Lensk District in the Arkhangelsk Region (Oblast) posted a letter from the Deputy Commander of the Russian Space Forces, VKS, informing the local authorities about the use of the Vashka impact zone for the launch of GLONASS-K2 No. 13L satellite on Aug. 7, 2023. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the launch of the Soyuz-2-1b rocket with a military payload took place at 16:20 Moscow Time on Aug. 7, 2023. The spacecraft was expected to separate from the upper stage at 19:53 Moscow Time and, soon after the expected separation time, the Russian military confirmed the successful insertion of the payload into its prescribed orbit.
