The Kosmos-2421, a Russian navy satellite for intelligence-gathering and identifying targets, was launched on Sunday from Baikonur, Russia's cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Kommersant said.

The daily cited a naval command official as saying that the satellite could not generate enough power and therefore could not deploy its equipment.

But an official from Russia's space forces, a defence ministry unit, told AFP that the Kosmos satellite "was successfully put in orbit and has passed under the navy's command."

Russian navy and space agency officials contacted by AFP declined to comment.

The satellite was designed 15 years ago but could only be launched this year, Kommersant said.

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