Last Friday, a Soyuz malfunctioned soon after launching from the Plesetsk spaceport in northern Russia.

BBC: Soyuz back in service after failed launch

In Baikonur and Plesetsk, the satellites are always attached to the Soyuz while the rocket is still in the horizontal.

BBC: A rocket abroad - Soyuz in French Guiana

This time, a Soyuz-2 vehicle failed to put a communications satellite into orbit after lifting away from the country's Plesetsk spaceport.

BBC: Another Soyuz rocket launch fails