Russia expands military presence in Arctic, preparing for resource expansion — Ukraine’s intel

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) reported the information.

According to Cherniak, against the backdrop of global warming and new opportunities in the Arctic — such as mineral deposits and the Northern Sea Route — the Kremlin has significantly intensified its activities in the region. The goal is to establish economic and military-technical presence under the guise of "scientific activity."

A key tool for implementing Russia’s Arctic strategy is the state enterprise Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. Although formally this organization carries out "scientific tasks," in reality, it is part of the Kremlin’s military-resource project.

Its main tasks include:

• conducting geological exploration of new gas and oil deposits;
• analyzing ice conditions in the Northern Sea to chart shipping routes;
• modeling climate and oceanographic changes through 2035 to enable long-term planning for regional exploitation.

The scientific expeditions organized by the institute study water temperature, current strength, wind dynamics, and predict changes in ice cover. However, the data collected serves a dual purpose — not only for science, but also for military planning. At the same time, Russia is developing infrastructure in the region, deploying communication equipment, including satellite systems that can be used to coordinate Arctic operations of the Russian Northern Fleet and support the use of unmanned systems.

“The world must be prepared for the fact that the Kremlin’s latest ‘scientific initiatives’ are merely a cover for a new phase of Arctic militarization. The aggressor state is gradually turning the region into a foothold for power projection, control over logistics routes, and access to resources. If the international community continues to underestimate these developments, the Arctic could become the next zone of tension,” Cherniak concluded.

• Earlier, The New York Times reported that Russia is strengthening its military positions near the Finnish border. Satellite images show an expansion of military infrastructure, which may be part of Moscow’s long-term strategy for the post-war period in Ukraine.