The Kremlin is expanding its military presence in the Arctic and preparing a foothold for resource-driven expansion, according to Andrii Cherniak, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
As reported by Ukrinform, HUR announced this on Facebook.
Amid global warming and the opening of new strategic opportunities in the Arctic — particularly mineral deposits and the Northern Sea Route — Russia is stepping up its activity in the region. The aggressor state is attempting to establish a lasting economic and military-technical presence under the guise of “scientific research.”
A key tool in implementing Russia’s Arctic strategy is the state enterprise Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. Although it formally carries out “scientific missions,” Cherniak noted that it actually functions as part of Moscow’s resource-military project.
The project aims to conduct geological exploration of new gas and oil fields, analyze ice conditions in the Northern Sea to chart shipping routes, and model climate and oceanographic changes up to 2035 for long-term regional exploitation planning.
The scientific expeditions organized by the institute study water temperature, current strength, wind dynamics, and forecast changes in the ice cover. These data serve a dual purpose — both for civilian use and for planning military operations and fleet movements.
At the same time, Russia is developing regional infrastructure: installing communication equipment, including satellite systems that could be used to coordinate Arctic operations of Russia’s Northern Fleet and support drone activity.
“The world must be prepared for the fact that the Kremlin’s latest ‘scientific initiatives’ are merely a smokescreen for a new phase of Arctic militarization. The aggressor state is gradually turning the region into a springboard 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,” emphasized Cherniak.
As Ukrinform also reported, the Kremlin is actively using the Russian Orthodox Church as a hybrid influence tool on the African continent, according to HUR representative Andrii Yusov.
