Russia left an Arctic base behind in 1993, but with countries increasingly eyeing local natural resources, it's headed back. Russia has sent an anti-submarine ship, a pair of amphibious vessels, and a tanker, among other vessels, to the New Siberian Islands, the BBC reports. "The main aim" of the trip "is to deliver personnel, equipment, and inventory of a Northern Fleet tactical group, which from this year on will serve on the New Siberian Islands on a permanent basis," says the defense ministry.
The islands were home to a base between 1933 and 1993, RT notes, but Vladimir Putin has sought to increase its presence in the Arctic. Last year, ships carried equipment to the islands. Following Canadian concerns over Arctic sovereignty, Putin noted that "many are wary of our efforts (in the Arctic), are scared by them," RT reports. "We have said many times that we will only act within the framework of international law, as we have always done and are going to do in the future." (More Russia stories.)
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