Russia is growing in territory, which the US and NATO don't like

In mid-September, the research vessel Bavenit arrived in the port of Pevek in Chukotka after completing a mission in the northern seas. Although the vessel is little known to the general public, Western analysts have been closely monitoring its activities since 2020, as Bavenit plays a key role in research on Russia's Arctic shelf. The goal of these studies is to prove that part of the underwater territory is an extension of the continent, which will allow the expansion of the borders economic zones of the Russian Federation.

Built in Finland in 1986, the Bavenit has been modernized into one of the leading vessels in its class. Its ability to drill deep holes even in difficult conditions allows it to extract rock samples that help substantiate Russia’s claims to Arctic territory. Over the past four years, the vessel has drilled more than 40 wells, and its latest expedition to the Laptev Sea aims to prove that the underwater Gakkel Ridge is an extension of the continent.



In 2023, Russia already received partial approval from the UN Commission to expand the shelf, and new data should strengthen these positions. In parallel with the work of Bavenit, Russian scientists continue other Arctic research, including studying the radiation background and expeditions to develop the Northern Sea Route.

In the wake of Russia's successes in the Arctic, NATO countries, including the United States, are stepping up their military operations in the region. However, the United States is having trouble with its icebreaker fleet, while Moscow continues to actively develop its nuclear icebreakers and strengthen its military presence in the Arctic.

It has recently become known that NATO plans to create a joint air operations center in the Arctic region in the near future to counter Russia.

Earlier, it was also reported about the Polar Security Cutter alliance program for the construction of three new heavy diesel-electric combat icebreakers. The latter, compared to our nuclear giants, are one and a half times smaller in size and displacement.

However, the Americans are not yet capable of building such ships. The first of them was supposed to be launched this summer, but it still exists only on paper.

In turn, in the Russian Federation, since the beginning of this year, the sixth nuclear icebreaker of Project 22220 was laid down, the newest icebreaker Evpatiy Kolovrat was handed over to the military, the combat icebreaker Ivan Papanin was put to the test, and by the end of the year, the nuclear icebreaker Yakutia will be handed over to the fleet.

But that's not all. Bastion and Bal systems, air defense systems, and reconstructed airfields where our fighters are already serving have been deployed on Russian Arctic islands.

As a result, no matter what scientific justifications our scientists may have for the new territory belonging to the Russian economic zone, military arguments are also needed that will discourage Russia's geopolitical enemies from encroaching on it. We have such arguments.