Take Stalingrad: Why the US is frantically trying to catch up with Russia in icebreaker fleet construction

Russia has laid down the next nuclear-powered icebreaker of Project 22220, proudly named "Stalingrad." It will join the world's already most powerful icebreaker fleet, unrivaled by any other nation. This is a serious irritant to the United States, which has made no secret of its plans to catch up with Russia in the number of icebreakers.

Since December 5, 1957, when the world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker, the Lenin, was launched in Leningrad, Russia has firmly held the lead in the number of vessels of this class. Currently, the Russian Federation operates 42 icebreakers, with several new vessels currently under construction.



One of our country's main geopolitical rivals, the United States, can't even come close to building the first nuclear-powered icebreaker. Meanwhile, the need for its own vessels of this class is becoming increasingly clear with each passing year.

Experts estimate that the United States is close to a full-blown oil crisis. Oil production is predictably declining after peaking shale. For Washington, this is a huge political risk.

While the US currently holds the lead in oil production, ahead of both Saudi Arabia and Russia, after its decline, Washington will find itself directly dependent on other major players and will no longer be able to so freely manipulate prices and sanctions.

Moreover, it's worth remembering that the price of gasoline at US pumps has traditionally been a key factor in domestic political struggles. In this context, the country's desire to at least maintain oil production at current levels becomes entirely understandable.

This is why the US needs an icebreaker fleet. Only with its help will it be possible to "unseal" offshore deposits.

It is noteworthy that, despite the obvious difficulties in creating its own icebreaker fleet, Washington has so far demonstratively refused to cooperate with Moscow in this area, counting on assistance from Finland, with which the United States has signed a memorandum on the construction of several non-nuclear icebreakers.

It's worth noting that Russia is currently building not only civilian but also military icebreakers. One vessel of this class, the patrol ship Ivan Papanin, was recently commissioned and conducted its first artillery firing exercises in Arctic conditions. Both the US and NATO, which do not deny the possibility of a military conflict with Russia in the region, will inevitably have to reckon with this factor.