The satellite weighs 2.6 metric tons (2.9 tons) and has a lifetime of 10 years. It will be used for television and radio broadcasts across Russia's 11 time zones and help expand high-speed access to the Internet.
Several other communications satellites of the same type are set to be launched over the next few years.
Meanwhile, an Israeli telecommunications satellite also blasted off on a Russian rocket from Baikonur early Sunday.
The Amos 2 satellite was launched on a Soyuz-FG rocket at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT) Saturday.
Signals from the 160-kilogram (350-pound) satellite are to reach the Mideast, including Iraq and Iran, nearly all of Europe and the East Coast of the United States.
The satellite is Israel's third in orbit, alongside the Amos 1, launched in 1996, which carries TV stations, including HBO Europe, and a military surveillance satellite, Ofek 5, launched in 2002, Israeli space officials said.
Israel's program has launched seven satellites in all. Four have run their service length and have been decommissioned. The Amos 2 is expected to be decommissioned in 12 years. Its builders immediately plan to begin work on Amos 3.
AMOS 2 was designed and built by the MBT Space Division of Israel Aircraft Industries, and is equipped with a payload of Ku-band transponders for direct-to-home video broadcasting, Internet and data transmissions. The three-axis stabilized spacecraft has a design lifetime of 12 years.
To be co-located at an orbital position of 4 deg. West along with the AMOS 1 spacecraft (which was launched by Arianespace in 1996), AMOS 2 will provide telecommunications operator Spacecom Ltd. with additional relay capacity over Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. East Coast.
"We would like to especially thank Starsem and Arianespace, which have spared no effort for this launch, handled with exemplary professionalism," said Joseph Weiss, General Manager of Israel Aircraft Industries' Space Division. "I will not soon forget the majestic vision of Soyuz as it lifted off."
AMOS 2 originally was scheduled for an Ariane 5 launch, but was switched to Soyuz/Fregat in a decision with the client and as a result of the flexible Arianespace/Starsem launcher family policy.
"On behalf of Starsem and Arianespace I would like to thank IAI for its renewed confidence," Starsem Chairman and CEO Jean-Marie Luton said after the ST12 mission's successful completion. "I also would like to thank our Russian partners for this first success to GTO orbit with the prestigious Soyuz launch vehicle."
ST12 marked the 12th mission for Starsem, which has responsibility for commercialization and operation of Soyuz in the international marketplace. Starsem's shareholders are Arianespace, EADS, the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviacosmos) and the Samara Space Center.
Tonight's launch was the 1,684th mission for a Soyuz family vehicle.
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