Putin launches world’s most powerful nuclear-powered icebreaker (VIDEO)

Source: RT News and Other Confidential Sources

Click the image link below to see the vessel launch:

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for the launch of a new nuclear-powered icebreaker. The Chukotka is part of a new fleet Russia is building to boost navigation along its Northern Sea Route (NSR) in the Arctic. 

The ship was launched at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg. The president gave the command to launch the vessel via video conference. “I authorize the launch!” Putin declared, after which the vessel was ceremoniously set afloat.

Chukotka is the fifth vessel (fourth serial) of Project 22220, a new Russian fleet of the world’s largest and most powerful nuclear-powered icebreakers, named after Chukotka Autonomous Region.

The Baltic Shipyard has previously produced serial icebreakers, including the Sibir, the Ural, and the lead icebreaker Arktika. Construction of the Yakutia, Leningrad, and Stalingrad vessels is currently underway.

“The development of such powerful, modern vessels is another embodiment of the industrial, scientific… and technological potential of Russia,” Putin said on Wednesday, stressing that “the entire domestic economy should develop on the basis of its own technologies and breakthrough scientific solutions.”

Launch of nuclear-powered icebreaker 'Chukotka' in St. Petersburg, Russia, November 6, 2024 © Sputnik / Aleksey Danichev

The 33,500-ton 173-meter-long icebreakers can plow through ice up to three meters thick. Each has two RITM-200 nuclear reactors that allows their propulsion system to produce up to 60 MW of power. The nuclear power source has a 40-year lifecycle, with refueling required around every seven years.

Moscow considers its icebreaker fleet to be of strategic importance as the ships are meant to make shipping through the Northern Sea Route more accessible for merchant vessels.

The NSR is a transport corridor in Russia’s exclusive economic zone stretching the entire length of Russia’s Arctic and Far East regions. Russia has been actively developing the route, which is expected to become a major trade route for goods shipped between Europe and Asia. The NSR could drastically reduce transportation times compared to traditional pathways through the Suez or Panama canals.

According to Putin, freight traffic via the route has been growing and is expected to hit a record high of more than 37 million tons this year. The Russian leader expressed confidence that in 2030, the throughput via the NSR will surpass 100 million tons.

Why the US and Russia are so interested in the Artic?

Russia:

1. Economic interests: Russia seeks to develop its Arctic regions, including natural resources such as oil, gas, and minerals, to boost its economy and reduce its dependence on foreign energy imports.

2. Strategic location: The Arctic provides a vital shipping route, the Northern Sea Route (NSR), which connects Europe and Asia, reducing travel time and costs. Russia aims to establish itself as a major player in this route.

3. National security: Russia views the Arctic as a vital component of its national security, seeking to protect its northern borders and maintain a military presence to deter potential threats.

4. Great power status: Russia seeks to assert its status as a great power by projecting its influence in the Arctic, including through military modernization and expansion of its Arctic infrastructure.

United States:

1. Strategic location: The US has a strategic interest in the Arctic due to its proximity to Alaska and the potential for increased access to natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals.

2. National security: The US seeks to maintain its military presence in the Arctic, including through the Thule Air Base in Greenland, to detect and respond to potential threats from Russia or other nations.

3. Economic interests: The US is interested in the Arctic’s natural resources, including oil and gas, and seeks to promote American businesses and industries in the region.

4. Global competition: The US views the Arctic as a key arena for global competition with Russia and China, seeking to maintain its influence and promote its interests in the region.

Other Potential (not commonly discussed) Reasons:

UFO Hub in Arctic

Several Google Earth users, including YouTube vlogger MrMBB333, have spotted a mysterious structure in the Arctic Sea that resembles a “UFO charging hub” or a “Tic-Tac UFO base”. The feature consists of a triangular core with three pod-like extensions, visible from satellite imagery.

Location: The structure is located on a glacier-covered island near the North Pole, specifically in the Franz Josef Land archipelago.

Description: The triangular building measures approximately 310ft long, while the small pods are about 120ft long and 70ft wide. The structure’s purpose remains unclear, but MrMBB333 speculated it could be a hub for UFOs, possibly serving as a charging station for extraterrestrial vehicles.

Comparison to Tic-Tac UFOs: The pod-like extensions resemble the shape of the “Tic-Tac UFOs” seen by US Navy pilots in 2004. MrMBB333 noted the similarity, stating that the pods “reminded me of the tic-tac UFO that was seen by the Navy”.

Alternative Explanation: Some have suggested that the structure might be a Russian military air base, similar to the Arctic Trefoil base established in 2017. However, the exact purpose and ownership of the structure remain unknown.

Key Points:

• Location: Arctic Sea, Franz Josef Land archipelago

• Structure: Triangular core with three pod-like extensions

• Size: Triangular building approximately 310ft long, pods 120ft x 70ft

• Speculation: Possible UFO charging hub or Tic-Tac UFO base

• Alternative explanation: Russian military air base (Arctic Trefoil)

HELP US FUND FREE OPEN SOURCE DATA!

Please donate here to support our effort to share open source intelligence data. Core provides OSINT data collection for free but we do incur time and expenses to locate and capture it. Any donation amount you can provide (one time or recurring) is highly appreciated and it helps us fund this effort of information sharing.