Russia’s Arctic grip weakens amid aging icebreaker fleet and sanctions — Ukrainian intel

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reported the information, according to Ukrinform.

Since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia has put only one nuclear icebreaker into service.

According to intelligence, international sanctions, Russia’s lack of modern domestic technologies, and funding problems undermine its ability to function as a modern Arctic state.

About one-third of Russia’s operational icebreakers were built in Finland. Overall, 60% of the world’s icebreakers are built at Finnish shipyards, and 80% are designed by Finnish companies. After sanctions, Russia tried to find other shipbuilders, including South Korea, but was also refused there due to the sanctions.

“Russia is trying to stay afloat in the Arctic by extending the service life of its nuclear-powered icebreakers. This is risky, as a reactor accident could trigger an environmental disaster comparable to Chernobyl. However, the service life of the nuclear icebreaker Yamal has already been extended twice, while for Vaigach and Taymyr, the most recent extension expires next year,” the report noted.

Under the Leader project, Russia had planned to build three icebreakers by 2032, capable of breaking through multi-year ice over four meters thick.

“In 2023, Putin cut the plans to one ship. Its cost is 127 billion rubles, equal to the annual budget of the Kamchatka region. The icebreaker is scheduled for completion in 2030, but Russia is unlikely to finish the project,” the intelligence concluded.

• Russia urges leaders of the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), meeting in Montreal, to ease sanctions on spare parts and on access to foreign airspace for Russian aircraft.