Russia will lay the keel of the first ice-class patrol ship this year, Deputy Chief of the Navy, Rear Admiral Viktor Bursuk told RIA Novosti.

"Given the world's great interest in the Arctic and the fact that our country has the longest border in the Arctic region, the Navy faces the challenge of protecting our interests in the Arctic. To this end, we will lay down the first ice-class ship this year," he said.

The ship will be built at the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg and will be able to break 1.5-meter-thick sea ice.

"This will be a ship that combines many functions and operates in autonomous mode in any sea of the Arctic region," Bursuk said.