President of the Association of Polar Explorers, famous Soviet and Russian scientist and oceanologist Artur Chilingarov presented the Honorary Polar Explorer award badge to 17 researchers and employees of organizations operating in the Arctic and Antarctic. The award ceremony took place aboard the Krasin icebreaker in St. Petersburg on July 25.

"The Honorary Polar Explorer award is the most valuable prize for those who have devoted many years of their lives to this work. Today we honor these outstanding people," Chilingarov said in his speech.

The Interregional Association of Polar Explorers planned to present the awards on Polar Explorer's Day, May 21, but due to the coronavirus pandemic the ceremony was postponed and divided into two parts, with the second taking place in December 2020.