Facebook announced Tuesday that Digital Sky Technologies (DST) had purchased a 1.96 percent stake in the social network giant for 200 million dollars, valuing the company at some 10 billion dollars.

Facebook said the Russian-based Internet investment group was also offering to purchase at least 100 million dollars of Facebook common stock.

The Palo Alto, California-based Facebook said details of the plan would be announced later this year.

It said DST would not be represented on the Facebook board or hold special observer rights.

"This investment demonstrates Facebook's ongoing success at creating a global network for people to share and connect," Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement.

"A number of firms approached us, but DST stood out because of the global perspective they bring -- backed up by the impressive growth and financial achievements of their Internet investments.

"We're looking forward to working with the DST team."

"Our investment experience in other regions reveals the tremendous value social networking companies create as they redefine how people communicate and interact," said Yuri Milner, chief executive of DST.

"By every important metric -- user growth and engagement, technological innovation and financial performance -- Facebook is on a similar trajectory, though on a much more global scale.

"We're delighted to invest in Facebook, Mark and his management team as they make the world more open and connected."