On 9 September 2021, at 22:59 MSK (19:59 UTC) crews of the Air and Space Forces conducted a successful launch of a Soyuz-2.1v launcher from the launch pad No. 43 of the launch complex No. 4 of the Plesetsk test site.

The satellite delivered into orbit, later designated Cosmos-2551, is believed to be the first optical reconnaissance spacecraft of the Razbeg type. It is a small satellite that is a follow-on to the Cosmos-2525 EMKA experimental satellite, launched in March 2018.

UPDATE: This identification is incorrect and Cosmos-2551 is different from Cosmos-2525. Also, it is not a Razbeg satellite. See note on small satellites.

Cosmos-2551 received international designation 2021-081A and registered by NORAD as object 49127. It is deployed on a sun-synchronous circular orbit with altitude of about 300 km, which requires conducting almost daily orbit maintenance maneuvers.

UPDATE: Although the ministry of defense reported that the launch was successful, the satellite apparently failed to perform any maneuvers and re-entered the atmosphere on 20 October 2021.