Politics
‘Yakutia’, the massive 33,000-ton Russian nuclear icebreaker taking the Arctic by storm
The Yakutia is the third massive nuclear-powered icebreaker of Project 22220, some of the largest vessels of their kind, to replace Russia’s aging fleet.
The Arctic has a new ruler: Russia’s 33,000-ton nuclear-powered icebreaker, Yakutia. As part of an ambitious effort to secure dominance over the Northern Sea Route (NSR), the Yakutia is poised to reshape Arctic exploration and logistics. Built to withstand some of the most extreme conditions on Earth, this engineering marvel is just one piece of Russia’s expanding icebreaker fleet.
At 568 feet (173.3 meters) long and 112 feet (34 meters ) wide, the Yakutia features a total propulsion power of 60 megawatts, allowing it to navigate icy waters with ease. It can sustain speeds of 1.5 to 2 knots (1.7 to 2.3 mph) even through thick sea ice, thanks to its cutting-edge nuclear-turboelectric propulsion system. The vessel is powered by two RITM-200 pressurized water reactors that operate on 20 per cent enriched Uranium-235, each delivering an impressive 175 megawatts of energy.
A key piece of Russia’s Arctic strategy
The Yakutia is part of Russia’s LK-60Ya icebreaker class, developed under the ambitious Project 22220. Alongside sister ships like the Chukotka and the Leningrad, this fleet is central to Russia’s Arctic strategy. The Northern Sea Route, which spans from the Barents Sea to the Chukchi Sea, is vital for connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans along Russia’s northern coastline. President Vladimir Putin has described the construction of these vessels as a “strategic decision” to bolster Arctic logistics and expand the country’s presence in the region.
The vessel, named after the Siberian republic of Sakha (Yakutia), is expected to officially enter service by the end of this year, ahead of the Chukotka, slated for 2026, and the more powerful Rossiya, which is scheduled for launch in 2027. With a reported cost exceeding 100 billion Russian rubles (approximately $1 billion USD), the Yakutia represents a significant investment in Russia’s Arctic ambitions.
Russia’s growing military presence at sea
The Yakutia isn’t Russia’s only Arctic play. This September, over 400 warships and 90,000 military personnel were deployed across strategic locations, including the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Baltic, Caspian, and Mediterranean Seas. These maneuvers underscore Russia’s increasing focus on militarizing its maritime assets to reinforce its geopolitical influence.
President Putin has openly criticized the United States for what he calls a “provocation” in the Asia-Pacific and Arctic regions, accusing Washington of fueling an arms race under the guise of countering a so-called Russian threat and containing China’s rise.
Original article written by Alejandro Cañas, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Greg Heilman.
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