To be able to continue scientific research on higher latitudes under the conditions of warming climate, Russia has to develop new technologies, BarentsObserver refers to the federal program on Environmental Protection. The program, which runs until 2020, suggests that Russia as soon as possible should start developing a self-propelled, ice- strengthened floating platform for scientific research. The project has a 1,7 billion rubles (app €42 million) price tag.
Russia has had floating research stations in the Arctic since 1937, when the first scientific drifting ice station in the world – North Pole-1 was opened.