Russian scientists will take part in the international ice drifting station's operations in 2017, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sergei Donskoi told RIA Novosti.

"The international drifting station project seems very interesting because it promotes international research cooperation in the central Arctic. I think that Russian scientists from related research institutes will be keen on joining it," he said.

The drifting station will open in April 2017 with support from the Russian Geographical Society as well as research and public organizations from Norway, the UK, the US, Monaco and Iceland. As is planned, the facility will operate until spring 2018. The station will accommodate as many as 40 researchers and technicians.