On 20 February 2020 at 11:24 MSK (08:24 UTC) the Space Forces successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1a launcher from the launch pad No. 3 of the launch complex No. 43 of the Plesetsk space launch site. The launcher, equipped with a Fregat booster stage, delivered into orbit a new military communication satellite of the Meridian-M type.

The satellite's NORAD number is 45254. Its international designation is 2020-015A. The satellite is known as Meridian 9. Previous Meridian launch took place in July 2019.