The environmental expedition to Bely Island organized by the Russian Arctic Exploration Center has finished preparing its research station for field season, according to the official website of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area government. Scientists installed a wind generator and conducted necessary maintenance at the station.

The expedition of 13 members started from Labytnangi on February 28 with five vehicles carrying 25 metric tons of freight and arrived at Bely Island on March 8. Currently, the main team of the expedition is busy with their tasks on the island. Ivan Semenyuk, a laboratory technician who works at the Arctic Research Center, took samples of snow and measured its depth along the 80 km route. The expedition members collect scrap metal from the stations prepared during the previous field season in order to remove all waste for further disposal on the mainland. The team is also mounting a pedestal for the future monument to members of the White Sea-Dikson 5 convoy.