In February, the Russian Defense Ministry will test new motor vehicles in Arctic conditions on the Varandei Peninsula, TASS quoted Deputy Defense Minister General of the Army Dmitry Bulgakov as saying.

"The expedition is designed to test the technical characteristics and capabilities of existing and prototype models of military vehicles in the challenging Arctic conditions. The tests will help improve and fine-tune the vehicles," he said.

KamAZ-43502, Patrul [Patrol], Ural-63706 Tornado-U, Trekol-39294 and Trekol-39295 vehicles, army snowmobiles and other new models of polar vehicles will be tested.

"The technical condition of vehicles operating in low temperatures and unfavorable climatic conditions will be gauged and analyzed and stress tests will be conducted to determine their breaking points and safe usage limits," the official said.

A convoy of 14 vehicles will set out from the town of Bronnitsy in the Moscow Region on February 4. The 2,500 km route will go through the Moscow, Ivanovo and Kirov regions, the Komi Republic and the Nenets Autonomous Area. The expedition is due to finish on February 22.