Russian Northern Fleet Ships Cross Shokalsky Strait for First Time in Russian Navy History
Moscow, September 28 (KUNA) -- The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that a group of ships from Russia’s Northern Fleet transited the Shokalsky Strait in the Arctic for the first time in the history of the Russian Navy, entering the Kara Sea as part of a long-range Arctic naval voyage.
In a statement, the ministry said the transit took place under difficult ice conditions, noting that ship crews had to adjust their course and account for the prevailing ice situation. A training alert was declared aboard the vessels to enhance crew readiness for navigating narrow waterways.
The ministry added that ice reconnaissance of the group’s route was conducted by a Ka-29 helicopter launched from the ice-class patrol ship Ivan Papanin, in order to assess navigation conditions and select a suitable passage route.
The naval group is operating under the command of Vice Commander of the Northern Fleet, Vice Admiral Oleg Golubiev. Participating vessels include the patrol ship Ivan Papanin, the large landing ship Kondopoga, along with support and supply ships.
During the transit, group personnel assessed the suitability of the new navigational area for Russian Navy operations, while the group continued its voyage in Arctic waters.
The Shokalsky Strait is located within Russia’s Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, separating the October Revolution and Bolshevik islands. It connects the Kara Sea with the Laptev Sea and is one of the region’s important maritime passages.
Navigation through the strait is of particular importance due to the area’s ice conditions. Scientific studies have shown that sea ice conditions in parts of Arctic passages change seasonally, affecting navigation conditions and the feasibility of ship transits.
The Russian group’s transit of the Shokalsky Strait comes amid the Russian Navy’s ongoing naval voyages and reconnaissance missions in the Arctic, a region that Moscow is increasingly prioritizing for strategic and economic reasons, particularly regarding maritime navigation and routes linking Russia’s northern ports with other regions. (End) D.A.N. / R.J.
