Russia’s Arctic icebreaking capability: an assessment

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper explores the Russian icebreaker fleet capabilities, problems, and perspectives. It also analyses Russian civilian and military icebreakers, and their dual-use capabilities. The paper responds to a question grounded in Russia's Arctic policy: How critical is icebreaking capability to Russia’s Arctic strategy? Based on the findings, the paper concludes that the influences of climate change and Russia’s foreign and external security policy affect the development of its icebreaker fleet in the Arctic. In this respect, temperatures of the ice melting in the Arctic and delays in building new icebreakers, because of access to the technology caused by the sanctions, are stressed. On the other hand, Russia’s confrontation with the West following the invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions over it, increases the allocation of government finance to support local shipbuilding companies. Moreover, the paper argues that Russia’s economic difficulties and shipbuilding delays should enhance the dual-use capabilities of the Russian icebreakers in the coming years.