Russia is building up forces in the Arctic to control resources and trade routes – GUR

Russia is increasing its military presence in the Arctic and preparing a springboard for resource expansion.

This was stated by the representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Andriy Chernyak.

“Against the backdrop of global warming and the opening of new strategic opportunities in the Arctic, in particular mineral deposits and the Northern Sea Route, the Russian Federation is intensifying its activities in the region. The aggressor state is trying to consolidate its economic and military-technical presence there under the guise of “scientific activity,”” the GUR said.

A key instrument for implementing Russia’s Arctic strategy is the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. It formally performs “scientific tasks,” but is in fact part of Moscow’s project.

“This project aims to conduct geological exploration of new gas and oil fields; analyze the ice situation in the North Sea for the purpose of laying shipping routes; and model climate change and oceanographic conditions until 2035 for the purpose of long-term planning of the region’s exploitation,” the GUR noted.

The institute’s scientific expeditions study water temperature, currents, winds, and predict changes in ice cover. All of this data is important for both civilian use and for planning military operations and fleet movements.

In parallel, the Russian Federation is developing the infrastructure of the Arctic region, in particular, installing satellite communication systems that are used to coordinate the operations of the Russian Northern Fleet and ensure the actions of unmanned systems.

“The world should be prepared for the fact that the Kremlin’s next “scientific initiatives” are just a curtain call for a new phase of militarization of the Arctic. The aggressor state is gradually turning the region into a springboard for projecting power, controlling logistical routes, and accessing resources. If the international community continues to underestimate these processes, the North may become the next zone of tension,” the GUR representative emphasized.

Previously, the GUR said that the Russian Federation is increasing its presence on the African continent, using educational and youth programs as a tool for long-term influence and creating loyal elites.

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