Russian navy sends 45,000 tons of goods to Arctic bases
Vessels are shuttling Arctic waters to bunker up the Northern Fleet’s 48 remote bases.
The first vessel loaded with foodstuff, technical equipment and various other goods this week left towards Ostrovnoy, the closed military town located on the eastern end of the Kola Peninsula.
The vessel will soon be followed by a string of more ships, some of them navy vessels, other civilian, a press release from the Northern Fleet reads.
In the course of summer, a total of 44,8 thousand tons of goods will be send to the Navy bases. The Northern Fleet operates a total of 60 military units based in 48 sites all over the Russian Arctic, many of them in the Kola Peninsula and along the White Sea.
Among the bases which will be supplied are also the newly reopened bases at Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, New Siberian Islands and Severnaya Zemlya.
Reviving Soviet airfields
As previously reported, Russia is reconstructing abandoned Soviet airfields all over the Arctic, including in the Franz Josef Land, the Novaya Zemlya and New Siberian Islands. In addition, the Northern Fleet`s Severomorsk-1 is getting a facelift. Also the airfields of Tiksi, Naryan-Mar, Alykel, Anadyr, Nagurskoye are getting more operational.
“We are returning to the Arctic and must possess all instruments of power for the protection of our national security interests”, President Vladimir Putin told his top military brass in late 2013.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Indigenous leaders warn international community, continued tensions with Russia will harm Arctic, Eye on the Arctic
Denmark: Nordics to step up security cooperation on perceived Russian threat, Yle News
Finland: Finnish fighter jet broke sound barrier during unspecified operation, air force declines comment, Yle News
Norway: Norway must ramp up military in response to Russia: report, Barents Observer
Russia: Russia responds to Arctic NATO drill, Barents Observer
Sweden: Arctic Challenge Exercise begins over North Sweden, Radio Sweden
United States: U.S. Arctic rep: Russia’s Arctic buildup not necessarily martial, Alaska Public Radio Network
