President Vladimir Putin presented two new nuclear-powered icebreakers in a public ceremony Tuesday that will ensure year-round navigation in the western Arctic, Reuters continues.
Putin led the launch ceremony in the former Russian capital of St. Petersburg via video link from the Kremlin. The Russian president said these icebreakers are of strategic importance to the country.
“Both icebreakers were established as part of a major series project and are part of our systematic and large-scale work to re-equip and replenish the national icebreaker fleet to enhance Russia’s status as a major Arctic power.”said Putin.
Climate change making the Arctic more navigable and oil and gas reserves in Russia’s Arctic regions are giving the region greater strategic significance.
Putin smiled as the Yakutia, a 173.3-meter icebreaker with a displacement of up to 33,540 tons and the ability to pierce ice blocks up to three meters, was launched from the port.
Two other icebreakers of the same series, the Arktika and the Sibir, are already in service, and another, the Chukotka, is planned for 2026, Reuters reports.
The Russian president also revealed that a 209-meter super-powered nuclear-powered icebreaker known as “Rossiya” with a displacement of up to 71,380 tons is planned for 2027 to break four-meter-thick ice.
“They are necessary for the study and development of the Arctic, to ensure safe and sustainable navigation in this region, to increase traffic along the Northern Sea Route”, Putin said referring to nuclear icebreakers. “The development of this main transport corridor will enable Russia to more fully exploit its export potential and establish efficient logistics routes, including to Southeast Asia.”
Since Putin came to power, Russia has quietly strengthened its presence in the Arctic, where it has more than 24,000 km (15,000 mi) of coastline stretching from the Barents Sea to the Sea of Okhotsk. Since 2005, Russia has reopened dozens of Soviet-era military bases in the Arctic, modernized its navy and developed new hypersonic missiles to evade US sensors and defenses.
Experts say it could take the West up to 10 years to catch up with Russia’s advance in the region.
Source: DN
