The arrival of a Russian flotilla in the Novosibirsk ("New Siberian") Islands marks the start of a new, permanent naval presence in the thawing region. As the race to lay claim to natural resources continues, Russia is reportedly planning to reopen a Soviet-era military base on the Arctic islands.
Also known as the Anzhu Islands, the low-lying archipelago is north of the East Siberian coast, between the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea, part of the Yakut Autonomous Republic. The highest point is Mt. Malakatyn-Tas on Kotelny Island, with an elevation of 374 m.
RIA Novisti reports that Russian military ships have recently arrived in the eastern part of the Arctic Laptev Sea. On 14 Sept, the Ministry of Defense said that Russia now had a permanent military presence in the Arctic region.
“Two days ago a naval task force from the Northern Fleet began major exercises around the Novossibirsk Islands. We arrived there or – more accurately – we have returned there forever,” said Deputy Defense Minister Arkady Bakhin, following a meeting chaired by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to RIA Novisti.
A few months ago, the Russian Geographical Society announced that one of its research and training vessels, Professor Khlyustin, would set sail for the Novosibirsk Islands on Tuesday, July 23. The ship, built in 1973 was recently upgraded with modern navigation equipment and communications systems. The Russian Geographical Society includes 81 regional offices across the country, with headquarters in St. Petersburg. In 2009, Sergei Shoigu was elected President of the Society and Vladimir Putin was elected Chair of the Society's Board of Trustees.
This expedition to the eastern Arctic was a scouting mission to monitor weather conditions and the environment along the Northern Sea Route. It did not reach the Novosibirsk Islands "because of a complicated ice situation," but was still reported by RIA Novosti as successful. "Scientists monitored and recorded the climate and the local waters, and they also conducted ice-reconnaissance experiments using UAVs (drones) and three submersibles." RV Professor Khlyustin left the Russian port of Vladivostok, today, heading north to Plastun, on the Russian coast, opposite Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido.
Yesterday, Reuters cited President Vladimir Putin saying Russia will make the northern coast a global shipping route and secure the region's vast energy resources. Nearly 20 years after abandoning the base, Russia has sent 10 warships behind four nuclear-powered ice breakers to the military base. The flotilla was reportedly led by Russia's flagship nuclear-powered cruiser, Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great), along the Northern Sea Route.
The Northern Sea Route is a transport corridor along Russia's northern coast linking Europe and Asia. The route is becoming increasingly open to commercial traffic as the climate warms and Arctic sea ice retreats, RIA Novosti reported.
The group of ships will take part in exercises around the Novossibirsk Islands, Bakhin said. "It is the first part of tasks set by the Russian president and the Defense Minister for the development and perfection of all sea lanes of the Northern Sea Route.” The Defense Ministry is also planning to upgrade and open a military airfield on the Novossibirsk Islands that will be able to function throughout the year, according to Bakhin.
Russia has staked future growth on mining the Arctic's energy resources, and Reuters says reviving the Soviet-era shipping route is part of the plan.
Further to the west along the Northern Sea Route, Russia has previously announced plans to develop a Russian National Park on Novaya Zemlya ("new land"). This mountainous archipelago in northwestern Russia separates the Barents and Kara seas.
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