Financing of the Federal Target Programme "World Ocean" has stopped in Russia with the implementation period having come to the end in 2013, says press center of RF Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment РФ. Sergey Donskoy, the Minister, has recently visited Russian Antarctic Station Vostok.
In 2014, RUB 1 bln will only be spent to finance current activities (maintenance of 5 round-the-year Arctic stations and 5 temporary field stations, 2 enhanced ice class vessels and chartering of aircrafts).
All scientific works on the research of the subglacial lake Vostok have been implemented within the framework of the Antarctic Research subprogramme (Federal Target Programme "World Ocean").
The Federal Target Programme "World Ocean" was implemented in three phases from 1998. Its major purpose was to provide a comprehensive solution for the research, development and efficient use of resources and territories of the World Ocean in favour of the economic development and security of the country. The financing of the third phase (2008-2013) exceeded RUB 4.7 bln.