Famous traveler Fedor Konyukhov has returned to Murmansk after completing his one-man polar expedition with the nuclear icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” (50th Anniversary of Victory). Konyukhov gathered information about the rate of ice melting, microplastic concentration and seismic activities of the Arctic Ocean floor during his trip within the framework of the “Clean Arctic” project.
For the first time in the history of Arctic exploration, a floating ice station was put into service in the summer. Konyukhov’s journey began on July 11 from Murmansk. On his previous voyage, the icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” had brought Konyukhov to the North Pole. It took 249 hours for the ice to drift. The
Konyukhov was met in Murmansk by representatives of the government of the Murmansk Region, General Director of FSUE Atomflot Mustafa Kashka and other officials. “When we talk about the Clean Arctic project, we usually talk about the North Pole, which is far from us. But we must start with ourselves. Rosatomflot has long been tasked with eliminating spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste to improve the ecological situation in the region. Recently, the project to dispose of the floating maintenance base “Lepse” was completed. This project has significantly reduced environmental risks. “Making the Arctic cleaner is important, but we need to start working in our region rather than in remote areas,” he said.
Dmitry Lobusov, the leader of the “Clean Arctic” project and the captain of the nuclear icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy”, stated that he believes that the work to clean the areas should not harm the sensitive ecosystem. “It is pleasing that they are thinking about arctic ecology and starting serious work in this direction. “Let’s hope that the new wave of interest in the ‘great Arctic cleanup’ doesn’t end before we die,” he said.
Konyukhov also said in his statement: “I am glad that young people love the Arctic. The youth of my time very much wanted to be like the Soviet Arctic explorer Papanin. Now that I’m getting old and sometimes I get restless, who will come after us? Will they deal with the Arctic the way we do today? I’m glad when they talk seriously about the Arctic.”