Russian paratroopers launch training exercise close to the North Pole
- 10 years ago
Russian paratroopers have landed on a drifting ice floe in the Arctic Ocean. Never before in modern times have the Russian military exercised here.
The manoeuvres got underway in a week when Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the Federal Security Service – the FSB to develop Russia’s border infrastructure in the Arctic.
He gave no details but last December the president ordered the military to boost its presence in the Arctic and complete the development of an infrastructure there by the end of this year.
It’s believed there are vast untapped reserves of oil and gas in the region which has increasingly become the centre of disputes between the United States, Russia, Canada, Norway and Denmark.
The manoeuvres got underway in a week when Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the Federal Security Service – the FSB to develop Russia’s border infrastructure in the Arctic.
He gave no details but last December the president ordered the military to boost its presence in the Arctic and complete the development of an infrastructure there by the end of this year.
It’s believed there are vast untapped reserves of oil and gas in the region which has increasingly become the centre of disputes between the United States, Russia, Canada, Norway and Denmark.