according to this CNN article. They plan on launching an upgraded version of their Soyuz booster known as Aurora. This version will be able to put 12 metric tons into LEO compared to the current Soyuz's 7.7 metric ton capacity. Some of the extra payload capacity will come from launching nearer to the equator compared to Balkinour's 49 degree latitude. Still, that's an impressive increase in capacity. I couldn't find anything about the Aurora on the Encyclopedia Astronautica website but there was reference to an upgraded Soyuz FG vehicle. I wonder if the FG is the Aurora.

I did find a little info on the Aurora here. It says,
"March 26
A Russian-Australian consortium, Asia Pacific Space Centre (APSC) has proposed a commercial satellite launch service based on Christmas Island using the Aurora launch vehicle. Asia Pacific includes Rosaviakosmos, the Russian Space and Aviation Agency and Russian companies, Energia, Samara and KBOM. Three and four stage Aurora models will be able to place up to 12t into low Earth orbit and 2t into geostationary transfer orbit. Aurora, resembling a Russian Soyuz, will be based on Molniya, Energia, Soyuz, Proton and other technologies. The first and second stages incorporate a core stage and four strap on boosters powered by NK-33 engines, while stage three is powered by an RD-0124 engine. A fourth stage will be powered by a derivative of the DM stage that flies on the Proton and renamed the Corvet."

Let's see, the standardized Soyuz 11A511U booster stage 0 (strap-ons) uses four RD-107-11D511 rocket engines each producing 101,130 KGf of thrust with a sea level Isp of 257 seconds. The core stage 1 uses a RD-108-11D512 rocket engine that produces 101,632 KGf with a sea level Isp of 248 seconds and a vacuum Isp of 315 seconds (enlarged nozzles account for the lower sea level Isp and the higher vacuum Isp).

The new Aurora will use NK-33 rocket engines for stage 0 & 1. These engines produce 167,000 KGf of thrust at sea level with an Isp of 297 seconds at sea level and 331 seconds in vacuum. That's a huge increase in performance, roughly 60% more thrust with a huge increase in efficiency. Not only that, but the NK-33 weighs 1,222 KG, compared to 1,200 KG for the RD-107 and 1,400 KG for the RD-108. That's impressive!

The standard Soyuz uses an RD-0110 engine for stage 2 that produces 30,380 KGF of thrust with an Isp of 326 seconds, weighing 408 KG. The new rocket will use an RD-0124 engine for that stage. The RD-0124 produces 30,000 KGF of thrust with an Isp of 359 seconds and a mass of 480 KG. So, while the engine is somewhat heavier and produces slightly less thrust, it's quite a bit more efficient. Sounds to me like they've got a winner on their hands.

BTW: I wonder why CNN is using a picture of a Saturn V launch in the article. I guess they figured no one would notice.