In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic.

Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.

Ensuring complete and reliable access to environmental information in Russia has never been fully guaranteed. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it became even more difficult. Some information ceased to be published altogether, such as daily oil production data and annual reports from certain industrial companies. Independent environmental organizations have been banned or closed.

The Arctic region plays a crucial role in comprehending the process of global climate change. Russia owns approximately one-third of its territory, including the exclusive economic zone of the Arctic Ocean. To understand and examine trends, we monitor new legislation, the plans of industry, the Northern Sea Route, international economic sanctions, accidents, and emergencies in the Russian Arctic, as well as provide commentary on the news. Subscribe to our mailing list to make sure you don’t miss the next digest.

Our previous monthly highlights for June/July can be found here.

In this issue:

THE NORTHERN SEA ROUTE AND SHIPPING
1. Bellona sent an open letter to European authorities regarding the planned transit voyage from China to Europe via the NSR
2. Overview of Shipping along the Northern Sea Route in August
3. At the Meeting of the Russian Maritime Board, Officials Once Again Discussed the Serious Lag in Establishing Emergency and Rescue Infrastructure along the Northern Sea Route
4. Russia Is Preparing a Project to Build a Series of Arc7-Class Arctic Supply Vessels to Support Northern 6. Deliveries and Transport along the Northern Sea Route

Bellona’s Comment

THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION IN THE ARCTIC AND SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA’S ACTIVITIES IN THE ARCTIC REGION
5. The French Shipyard Damen Shiprepair in Brest Has Ceased Servicing Russian Arc7-Class LNG Carriers Transporting LNG from Yamal
6. Russian Shipbuilding Companies File Lawsuits Against Foreign Suppliers of Marine Equipment — Damen and Wärtsilä
7. Two LNG-Powered Icebreakers Will Not Be Built in Russia Due to Withdrawal of the Turkish Shipyard
8. Norway Strengthens Oversight of Russia’s “Shadow Fleet” Transporting Oil and Gas along Its Coastline
9. The Barents Sea Faces the Risk of an Environmental Disaster Amid Threat of Collapse of the Norway–Russia Fisheries Agreement
10. Arctida Published an Investigation on How Russia Continues to Export Diamonds to Europe and the United States Despite Sanctions
11. South Korea Announces Launch of Pilot Arctic Shipping Routes in Summer 2026

Bellona’s Comment

GROWING INDUSTRIAL PRESSURE ON THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC
12. Construction of Novatek’s Large-Scale “Murmansk LNG” Project Delayed Once Again
13. Arctic Lithium Plans to Extract Its First Ore in 2026
14. The “Arkticheskaya” Drilling Rig Sent to the Kara Sea for Exploration and Well Drilling at the Rusanovskoye Gas Condensate Field
15. Sanctioned Company “AGD Diamonds” to Allocate up to 100 Million Rubles for Gold Exploration in the Arkhangelsk Region
16. Flaring of Associated Petroleum Gas in Russia Is Increasing, Including in Arctic Regions

ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE ISSUES IN THE ARCTIC
17. Scientists Record the Widespread Expansion of Taiga Animal Species into the Arctic
18. Global Reindeer Population to Decline Sharply by the End of the Century
19. Forest Fires Are Becoming More Intense in the Siberian Arctic

ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC
20. Explosion Occurred on the Small Tanker Onemen 110 km from Anadyr
21. Wildfires Continued Across Various Parts of the Russian Arctic in August
22. Russian Court Denies Rosprirodnadzor’s Claim to Recover 37 Million Rubles from the Taimyr Fuel Company for Environmental Violations

The Northern Sea Route and Shipping

Bellona sent an open letter to European authorities regarding the planned transit voyage from China to Europe via the NSR ↑

The China-controlled logistics company Sea Legend Shipping plans to send a container vessel from China to Europe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) on 20 September. Bellona has addressed an open letter to EU officials and directors of European ports, warning of potential risks associated with the passage of Chinese vessels through the NSR — including negative environmental impacts, political risks, and the threat of hybrid attacks.

Bellona warns that this would set a precedent for the active use of the NSR for transit purposes, which would not only increase environmental risks in the Arctic but also enable Russia to continue financing its war in Ukraine. The infrastructure operator of the Northern Sea Route — the State Corporation Rosatom — is directly involved in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

See the open letter here.

Overview of Shipping along the Northern Sea Route in August ↑

In August, two container vessels from China arrived in Arkhangelsk via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as part of the regular Arctic Express No. 1 route. On 15 August, the vessel Newnew Polar Bear delivered 497 containers carrying auto parts, PVC film, and steel. On 21 August, it departed on the return voyage to Shanghai and Tianjin, loaded with timber industry products from the Arkhangelsk region.

The Newnew Polar Bear gained wide notoriety after the Baltic Sea incident in October 2023, when its anchor damaged a gas pipeline and two communication cables. Finnish authorities stated at the time that the case involved intentional sabotage.

On 27 August, another container vessel, XIN XIN HAI 1, arrived in Arkhangelsk, bringing 468 containers with auto parts. On its return voyage to China, it carried 503 containers with sawn timber, cardboard, and ore. A total of 20 voyages are planned along this route in 2025.

During the entire spring–autumn navigation period (August–October 2025), about 70 transit voyages with a combined deadweight of 2.8 million tonnes are expected along the NSR.

Currently, two nuclear icebreakers — Yamal and Sibir — are operating on the route, and 19 icebreakers have been granted navigation permits this year. In addition to the eight nuclear icebreakers of Atomflot and four diesel icebreakers of Rosmorport engaged in escort operations, this number includes two Gazprom Neft icebreakers (servicing the Gates of the Arctic terminal), the Dudinka icebreaker at the port of Dudinka, and other corporate icebreaking vessels responsible for port operations and emergency readiness.

In August, shipments continued from the Arctic LNG 2 plant, which remains under international economic sanctions. These shipments could become regular and significantly increase cargo traffic along the NSR. On 9 August, the sanctioned LNG carrier Christophe de Margerie docked at Arctic LNG 2 and loaded a batch of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on 11 August. This was already the fourth sanctioned vessel to operate at the project this year. According to Reuters, the tanker’s owner is Zelitiko Shipping, and its manager is Gas Carriers SCF — both registered in Dubai.

At the end of August, the plant completed two more shipments — the LNG carriers Buran and Arctic Metagaz loaded LNG and departed for Asian ports via the NSR. According to Reuters, this marked the fifth shipment since the beginning of the year. However, the Arctic Metagaz, which lacks an ice class, was forced to stop and turn back at the ice edge in the East Siberian Sea. The vessel was following the nuclear icebreaker Sibir but encountered dense ice fields even during the so-called summer window, remaining immobilized for more than a week. Its position was subsequently removed from the public logs of the NSR Administration, raising questions about both its operational status and the safety of the route.

Other tankers — Christophe de Margerie, Voskhod, and Zarya — which had loaded earlier, also proceeded eastward along the NSR toward Asian destinations. Another vessel, Iris, initially set a westward course after its June loading, but later changed direction and turned east.

On 28 August, the tanker Arctic Mulan LNG delivered the first batch of gas from the Arctic LNG 2 plant to the Beihai LNG terminal in China’s Guangxi province. According to Kpler and LSEG, this was the first time since the plant’s launch that gas from Arctic LNG 2 reached an end consumer.

On 16–17 August, the plant loaded its first gas condensate tanker of 2025. The Shturman Koshelev vessel, owned by Gazprom Neft, departed the plant bound for Asian ports.

At the Meeting of the Russian Maritime Board, Officials Once Again Discussed the Serious Lag in Establishing Emergency and Rescue Infrastructure along the Northern Sea Route ↑

At a meeting of the Russian Maritime Board, its Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Patrushev and the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev reported that the current number of emergency and rescue centers, vessels, and satellite monitoring systems along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) remains insufficient. This shortfall, they said, increases the risk of accidents, raises insurance costs, and reduces the route’s attractiveness for foreign shipping companies.

“It should be noted that at present, the divisions of federal executive bodies responsible for ensuring maritime safety in the Arctic zone are still insufficiently equipped from a technical standpoint,” Patrushev stated.

Trutnev outlined the following measures as necessary:

• Construction of three Arctic emergency and rescue centers — in Sabetta, Tiksi, and Dikson, staffed by specialists from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) and the Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA);
• Development of port and airfield infrastructure at these centers;
• Provision of nine helicopters for existing and new centers;
• Launching into orbit four communication satellites, four hydrometeorological monitoring satellites, and four radar observation satellites to ensure reliable communication and ice condition monitoring;
• Commissioning at least 42 emergency and rescue vessels, equipping nuclear icebreakers with additional emergency response capabilities, and building one more hydrographic fleet vessel.

Russia Is Preparing a Project to Build a Series of Arc7-Class Arctic Supply Vessels to Support Northern Deliveries and Transport along the Northern Sea Route ↑

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has announced a tender for the design of a series of Arc7-class ice-strengthened supply vessels for operations along the Northern Sea Route. The project envisions the construction of 10 vessels with a carrying capacity of up to 20,000 tonnes, capable of independent navigation in ice up to 1.7 meters thick. These vessels will be used to transport containers, fuel, construction materials, and other cargo for northern supply operations. According to Vedomosti, the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) is the leading contender for the contract.

Bellona’s Comments:

«Cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route may increase this year due to shipments from the Arctic LNG 2 plant to China, which began in August despite international sanctions that have constrained the project since 2022. Most likely, China’s decision to ignore U.S. and European sanctions and purchase Russian gas is linked to the growing tensions between China and the United States. How long-term this contract will be remains unclear, as China’s motives for entering it appear to have been primarily political rather than economic.

Moreover, navigational challenges caused by complex and unpredictable ice conditions, combined with the growing number of vessels in Russia’s “shadow fleet” operating along the route, significantly increase the risk of accidents. Meanwhile, emergency and rescue infrastructure remains inadequate, as officials repeatedly acknowledge at various public events.»

The International Situation in the Arctic and Sanctions on Russia’s Activities in the Arctic Region

The French Shipyard Damen Shiprepair in Brest Has Ceased Servicing Russian Arc7-Class LNG Carriers Transporting LNG from Yamal ↑

Previously, Damen, together with the Danish shipyard Fayard A/S, played a key role in maintaining the Arctic fleet of the Yamal LNG project, which consists of 15 vessels. According to an investigation by High North News, since 2022 the two shipyards have serviced 14 out of the 15 LNG carriers, with some of them undergoing maintenance more than once. Between February 2022 and July 2024, Damen received at least eight LNG carriers chartered for Novatek’s Yamal LNG project. However, the shipyard has now discontinued maintenance of these vessels.

Currently, the only European shipyard still servicing the Russian Arctic fleet is Fayard A/S in Odense, Denmark, where the Nikolay Urvantsev and Fyodor Litke underwent maintenance in June and July 2025.

Damen made this decision in line with the policy of the Netherlands and the European Union’s strategy to phase out Russian LNG. As a result, Russia now faces a limited set of options: either overload the Danish shipyard or send the vessels to China, where repairs take weeks and cause significant fleet downtime.

Russian Shipbuilding Companies File Lawsuits Against Foreign Suppliers of Marine Equipment — Damen and Wärtsilä ↑

Following the introduction of sanctions in 2022 and the withdrawal of foreign companies from the Russian market, Finland’s Wärtsilä and its subsidiaries suspended the execution of contracts with Russian shipyards. The Russian shipbuilding enterprises, which had paid advance payments for equipment and services, did not receive full deliveries and subsequently filed lawsuits. According to PortNews, Russian courts have already ruled in favor of several shipyards, including Nevsky Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant, Krasnoye Sormovo, Severnaya Verf, Admiralty Shipyards, Yantar Baltic Shipbuilding Plant, and the Baltic Shipyard, for a total amount of approximately €27 million.

In the previous digest, we reported that Atomflot had filed a lawsuit against the Dutch company Damen for breaching a contract to build tugboats for the Northern Sea Route and is demanding the return of 1.2 billion rubles (€13.4 million) in advance payments. The Arbitration Court of the Murmansk Region has accepted Atomflot’s claim for consideration and scheduled a hearing for December 16, 2025. The case concerns advance payments under contracts for the construction of five port tugboats for the “Arctic Transshipment” project in the Ura Bay of the Murmansk Region.

Two LNG-Powered Icebreakers Will Not Be Built in Russia Due to Withdrawal of the Turkish Shipyard ↑

According to PortNews, Rosmorport and the Onega Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant terminated in June their 2021 contract for the construction of Russia’s first dual-fuel icebreakers. The Icebreaker 7 class vessels, with a capacity of 12–14 MW, were intended to be the first Russian icebreakers capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and to operate year-round in the Baltic, White, Barents, and Pacific seas. However, following the imposition of international economic sanctions against Russia and the resulting inability to supply the required equipment, the actual contractor — the Turkish Kuzey Star Shipyard — never began construction.

As a result, no work was completed despite an advance payment of 9.27 billion rubles; the 18.5-billion-ruble contract was terminated, and the funds are to be returned to Rosmorport.

In our May digest, we reported that due to UK-imposed sanctions, the Kuzey Star Shipyard also failed to deliver to Russia an already completed floating dock intended for servicing the Project 22220 nuclear icebreakers.

Norway Strengthens Oversight of Russia’s “Shadow Fleet” Transporting Oil and Gas along Its Coastline ↑

Starting 11 August, the Norwegian authorities will begin requesting insurance documentation from foreign tankers operating within Norway’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The measure, introduced for a six-month trial period, aims to reduce the risk of accidents and curb illicit financing of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Similar rules are already in effect in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Verification of “shadow tanker” documentation will be voluntary. Authorities will request insurance details, but refusal to provide them or inadequate insurance coverage will not directly result in sanctions.

The decision followed reports of suspicious routes taken by several oil and gas tankers off Norway’s coast, raising concerns over maritime safety. The so-called “shadow fleet” largely consists of aging tankers with opaque ownership structures and insufficient insurance coverage.

The Barents Sea Faces the Risk of an Environmental Disaster Amid Threat of Collapse of the Norway–Russia Fisheries Agreement ↑

In July, the Norwegian government, following the European Union’s lead, added major Russian fishing companies Norebo JSC and Murman Seafood to its sanctions list and banned their access to Norwegian ports. In response, Russia has threatened to terminate the existing bilateral fisheries agreement with Norway.

The head of Russia’s Federal Agency for Fisheries, Ilya Shestakov, stated that if Norway does not change its position within a month, Russia will close its waters to Norwegian vessels and set fishing quotas based solely on Russian national interests.

Russia and Norway concluded this fisheries agreement during the Cold War, establishing shared cod catch quotas to preserve the cod population in the Barents Sea. Any disruption of this agreement could result in a serious environmental problem, as joint management of fish stocks is what ensures the sustainability of the region’s marine ecosystem.

Arctida Published an Investigation on How Russia Continues to Export Diamonds to Europe and the United States Despite Sanctions ↑

An investigation by Arctida revealed that despite the G7 and EU sanctions against Alrosa and the ban on importing Russian diamonds starting in 2024, stones originating from Russia continue to reach European and U.S. markets. Currently, 100% of Russian diamonds are mined within the Russian Arctic zone.

The scheme relies on a network of intermediaries, primarily the First Diamond Company (Pervaya Brilliantovaya Kompaniya, PBK), which is formally not affiliated with Alrosa but is managed by former employees of Alrosa’s sales divisions. PBK purchases rough diamonds in Russia and sends them to Armenia, the United Arab Emirates, and India, where the stones are cut and polished, effectively losing their Russian origin. From January 2023 to March 2024, PBK exported diamonds worth over USD 290 million — tens of times more than Alrosa officially exported during the same period.

To ensure compliance with sanctions, the G7 and EU planned to implement a mechanism that would accurately trace the journey of each diamond. However, this system remains ineffective: the blockchain-based tracing mechanism has been postponed until 2026, and manual verification is still being used. As a result, Russian diamonds continue to be sold, and the revenue flows back to Russia.

South Korea Announces Launch of Pilot Arctic Shipping Routes in Summer 2026 ↑

The Minister of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, Chung Jae-su, announced that the country will begin pilot shipping operations along Arctic routes in 2026 and will establish a governmental task force to prepare a long-term roadmap.

Plans also include the creation of a “Northern Sea Route Economic Zone”, encompassing the country’s southern ports. During his presidential campaign, President Lee Jae-myung had already stated his intention to transform these ports into hubs of Arctic trade as part of their economic revitalization.

South Korea aims to turn the port city of Busan into a strategic center for northern routes, positioning it as a competitor to Shanghai. The administration of President Lee Jae-myung announced that by the end of this year, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will relocate to Busan, located 325 km southeast of Seoul, to make the city a strategic hub for the maritime industry amid the expected growth of northern shipping routes. The ministry plans to attract financial and maritime institutions as well as shipping companies, including Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), the country’s largest container carrier.

According to the minister, Seoul must consider growing international competition, as the United States has announced plans to procure 15 icebreakers, Russia intends to invest USD 28 billion in the Northern Sea Route by 2035, and China has already conducted 35 voyages along the NSR and is advancing its “Polar Silk Road” initiative.

South Korea possesses extensive shipbuilding experience and technical expertise. The country’s shipyards — Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries — have built the majority of the world’s Arc7-class tankers for Arctic operations, primarily for Russian ports. According to High North News, the new order for five Arc7 container vessels that China’s Newnew Shipping Line plans to place may also go to South Korean shipyards.

Bellona’s Comments:

«The slow and often ineffective implementation of economic sanctions against Russia allows Russian companies to adapt to new conditions. For example, there is still no functioning mechanism to trace the origin of diamonds, which enables the continued export of Russian diamonds to American and European markets. Likewise, there is no reliable system to verify the origin of crude oil used in petroleum products, which complicates enforcement of restrictions on refined products made from Russian oil.

Furthermore, the current global political situation, particularly the economic confrontation between the United States and China, has reduced the effectiveness of secondary sanctions and even the deterrent effect of their potential introduction compared with a year ago. In circumstances where sanctions cannot fully halt Russia’s export revenues, and companies’ operational costs inevitably rise, environmental standards of industrial activity are declining, while the risk of accidents and related environmental threats is sharply increasing. At times, environmental issues and their economic implications become a tool of political leverage or blackmail — as illustrated by Russia’s threat to withdraw from the fisheries agreement with Norway.»

Growing Industrial Pressure on the Russian Arctic

Construction of Novatek’s Large-Scale “Murmansk LNG” Project Delayed Once Again ↑

In August, the Russian government approved a comprehensive infrastructure development plan until 2036. According to the document, the launch of the Murmansk LNG plant has been postponed to 2032 — two years later than the previously scheduled date.

The project is being implemented by Novatek, with a planned capacity of 20.4 million tonnes of LNG per year. Initially, the commissioning of the first production lines was expected between 2027 and 2029, later rescheduled to 2030.

The plant is to be supplied with gas via the Volkhov–Murmansk trunk pipeline, designed to transport 40 billion cubic meters per year. The pipeline is under construction by Gazprom, with completion now planned for 2031, although President Vladimir Putin had earlier instructed that it be commissioned no later than 2030.

Arctic Lithium Plans to Extract Its First Ore in 2026 ↑

Arctic Lithium, a joint venture between Khalmek and the Krasnoyarsk Chemical and Metallurgical Plant, plans to begin mining operations at the Polmostundrovskoye deposit in 2026. Geological exploration has already been completed, equipment for blasting and drilling operations has been delivered, licenses are being processed, and the construction of an access road is under consideration. The planned processing capacity of the project is 1 million tonnes of ore per year.

The “Arkticheskaya” Drilling Rig Sent to the Kara Sea for Exploration and Well Drilling at the Rusanovskoye Gas Condensate Field ↑

The Arkticheskaya drilling platform has departed from the port of Murmansk and set course for the Rusanovskoye gas condensate field in the Kara Sea, one of Russia’s largest gas deposits. The platform is designed for drilling exploration and production wells for oil and gas at depths of up to 6,500 meters, operating in the harsh conditions of the High North.

Exploration work at the field is expected to continue for about two months, with logistical support organized from Murmansk. According to Customs Post Head Alexander Vladimirov, this is already the second drilling rig operating in Arctic waters.

Exploration of offshore gas fields in the Kara Sea is being carried out by Gazprom.

Sanctioned Company “AGD Diamonds” to Allocate up to 100 Million Rubles for Gold Exploration in the Arkhangelsk Region ↑

The AGD Diamonds company, under U.S. and U.K. sanctions, plans to invest up to 100 million rubles in gold exploration in the Arkhangelsk region in 2025. The company’s chief geologist, Roman Pendelyak, announced the start of exploration work at the 3rd Arctic Regions Forum in Arkhangelsk at the end of May.

The work is being conducted within the Vetreny Belt, an area considered promising for gold deposits due to the presence of quartz veins, sulfides, and tectonic fault zones. The company hopes to confirm the presence of several dozen tonnes of gold. Current operations include geological surveys and sampling, with geophysical studies and drilling planned. The five-year exploration license allows for potential withdrawal from the site if no viable reserves are found.

If reserves are confirmed, AGD Diamonds intends to consider constructing a processing plant. The company is already known for developing the V. Grib diamond deposit, where it has extracted 50 million tonnes of ore and unique diamonds exceeding 50 carats since operations began.

Flaring of Associated Petroleum Gas in Russia Is Increasing, Including in Arctic Regions ↑

According to World Bank data, in 2024 the volume of flared fossil (associated) petroleum gas in Russia reached 29 billion cubic meters, which is 2% higher than the previous year. This occurred despite an overall decline in national oil production. Russia continues to consistently lead the world in the amount of gas burned in flares.

There are dozens of routine flaring sites at Russian Arctic oil fields, primarily located in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, and the northern part of the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Although Russia joined the World Bank and United Nations initiative to end routine gas flaring in 2015, no meaningful progress has been observed in this area. Moreover, at offshore fields in the Arctic seas, the fees for emissions resulting from flaring or venting associated gas were reduced fourfold in 2018 for the 2020–2030 period, compared with the 2018–2019 rates.

Environmental and Climate Issues in the Arctic

Scientists Record the Widespread Expansion of Taiga Animal Species into the Arctic ↑

Following summer field expeditions, experts from the Arctic Research Station on Yamal reported significant changes in the region’s ecosystems. They observed the spread of southern animal species into Arctic tundra areas — including brown bears, foxes, gyrfalcons, and merlins — and even recorded rare appearances of lynx, captured by camera traps.

According to scientists, this indicates major transformations in food chains and ecosystem dynamics, primarily caused by climate change.

Global Reindeer Population to Decline Sharply by the End of the Century ↑

The global population of reindeer is projected to decline drastically by the end of this century due to the climate crisis, according to a new international scientific study. Researchers reconstructed reindeer population trends over the past 21,000 years and modeled how current global warming will affect the species.

Although reindeer have survived past periods of rapid warming, their population has fallen by 66% over the past 30 years, and by 2100 it may decrease by another 60% compared with today. The most severe declines are expected in North America, where numbers may drop by up to 84%.

One of the few exceptions is the Taimyr Peninsula, where models predict a population increase. This area has historically served as a refuge for reindeer during earlier warming periods. Another potential refuge could be central Greenland, where glacial melt may create new habitats. However, these isolated cases do not offset the overall alarming outlook.

The study’s authors emphasize the urgent need for major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increased investment in reindeer conservation. This is vital not only to preserve the species and its essential ecological role in Arctic ecosystems, but also to support the livelihoods and cultural well-being of Indigenous peoples and local communities.

Forest Fires Are Becoming More Intense in the Siberian Arctic ↑

Scientists analyzing 23 years of satellite data found that in most parts of the Siberian Arctic, fires are becoming more frequent and more intense — with a marked increase in fire radiative power across vast areas of the region. The findings were published in the journal Current Problems in Remote Sensing of the Earth from Space.

Researchers attribute the trend primarily to ongoing climate warming, which is progressing faster in the Arctic than the global average, and to changing weather patterns, particularly the increased frequency of prolonged droughts. In the most vulnerable subregions, extreme fire seasons now occur approximately every five years, expanding burned areas two to four times beyond the long-term average. Where fires have already become a regular phenomenon, a steady rise in fire intensity is observed.

The most severe and large-scale fires typically occur in the eastern Siberian Arctic, where both dry climate conditions and dense forest cover contribute to their spread.

The authors stress that beyond their destructive effects on local ecosystems — including permafrost degradation, changes in vegetation cover, and alterations to soil hydrology — Arctic fires also lead to the release of carbon trapped in permafrost, further amplifying global climate change.

It is worth recalling that another study, published earlier in the journal Arctic: Ecology and Economy, estimated that between 2000 and 2024, fires in the Russian Arctic affected 36.5 million hectares, including 13.3 million hectares of forested areas and 23.2 million hectares of tundra. The authors also highlighted the lack of research on tundra fires, for which no systematic data collection or firefighting measures currently exist.

Accidents and Emergencies in the Russian Arctic

Explosion Occurred on the Small Tanker Onemen 110 km from Anadyr ↑

According to Anadyr Sea Port, which owns the vessel, an explosion of flammable liquid vapors occurred on board the tanker without subsequent ignition. Investigators reported that the explosion happened after unloading fuel, as the tanker was returning from the settlement of Ust-Belaya to Anadyr along the Anadyr River.

One crew member and the captain were injured and were airlifted to the Chukotka Regional Hospital.

“The vessel’s integrity was not compromised, the tanker is being towed to Anadyr. No fuel spill occurred,” the Anadyr Sea Port stated.

A criminal case has been initiated under Article 216, Part 1 of the Russian Criminal Code (“Violation of safety rules during other types of work resulting in serious bodily harm”).

The Onemen tanker sails under the Russian flag. It is 65 meters long and 10 meters wide.

Wildfires Continued Across Various Parts of the Russian Arctic in August ↑

In western Chukotka, near the town of Bilibino, a large wildfire was extinguished by 11 August. The burned area reached 4,700 hectares, with aviation and ground forces involved in the firefighting operation.

At the same time, fires continued to burn in the Murmansk region covering 405 hectares and in the Yamal Peninsula covering 65 hectares. Since the beginning of the year, the total burned area in the Murmansk region amounted to 1,500 hectares, while in Yamal, during the fire season declared on 10 May, it reached 1,860 hectares.

Satellite imagery from 1 August also showed a wildfire in the Kolyma River valley in northern Yakutia, just 150 kilometers from the Arctic Ocean coast.

In other regions partially or entirely within the Russian Arctic Zone (RAZ), fires were recorded in August in Karelia (covering 1,900 hectares), Arkhangelsk region (282 hectares), and Yakutia, where the total burned area reached 15,700 hectares.

Russian Court Denies Rosprirodnadzor’s Claim to Recover 37 Million Rubles from the Taimyr Fuel Company for Environmental Violations ↑

During a 2022 inspection of the Dudinka oil depot owned by JSC Taimyr Fuel Company, the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources (Rosprirodnadzor) identified serious violations, including unauthorized discharge of untreated meltwater and spills of petroleum products within the facility’s territory. It was also found that contamination had spread to adjacent land plots near the Yenisei River.

The Yenisei Department of Rosprirodnadzor sought to recover 34.7 million rubles in environmental damages, later raising the claim to 37 million rubles.

However, in August 2025, the Arbitration Court of the Krasnoyarsk Territory rejected the claim, though the court’s reasoning has not yet been made public.

The Taimyr Fuel Company is a subsidiary of Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel). In 2020, it was responsible for the spill of over 20,000 tonnes of diesel fuel near Norilsk, after which the company was required to pay a record 146 billion rubles in environmental damages.