The Air and Space Forces conducted a successful launch of a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the launch pad No. 4 of the launch complex No. 43 of the Plesetsk space launch site. The launch took place at 11:36 MSK (08:36 UTC) on 23 May 2025. (See also the RIA Novosti video)

The satellite, Cosmos-2588, was placed on a near-circular 464x481 km orbit with inclination of 73 degrees. It was registered by NORAD as object 64095 and received the international designation 2025-109A.

The Cosmos-2588 orbital plane is very close to that of US reconnaissance satellite, USA 338. Estimates suggest that Cosmos-2588 can come to within 100 km from each other.

This is not the first time Russia deploys its satellite this way. Cosmos-2542 (and Cosmos-2543) were deployed close to USA 245. Cosmos-2558 was deployed in the orbital plane of USA 326. Cosmos-2576 was placed in the orbital plane of USA 314. The United States also said that Russia tested "counterspace systems" in launches conducted in 2019 and 2022.