Northern Fleet to continue Arctic operations in 2017
© RIA Novosti. Mikhail Fomichev

Northern Fleet to continue Arctic operations in 2017

The Northern Fleet combined strategic command will mostly protect Russia's state interests in the Arctic throughout 2017, Captain First Class Vadim Serga, Chief of the Northern Fleet's press service, told RIA Novosti, quoting Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov.

According to Vice Admiral Yevmenov, the Northern Fleet boasts tremendous experience in Arctic missions. "This includes submarine operations in the Arctic basin and surface ships to protect the Northern Sea Route, Russia's main Arctic shipping lane, as well as rescue operations and efforts to maintain environmental safety in the Arctic zone," the admiral said.

The Northern Fleet is to complete several Arctic missions before the year is out; there are also plans to conduct a number of rescue exercises and to protect Russia's islands and coastal territories.