60.000 bidons de pétrole rouillent là-bas…
In remotest Russian Arctic, a new Navy base | Barentsobserver
▻http://barentsobserver.com/en/security/2013/09/remotest-russian-arctic-new-navy-base-17-09
The Island of Kotelny in the period 1933-1993 housed a research station and military base. Remains of the decades of Soviet presence at the island is overwhelming. Significant volumes of abandoned military equipment and metal scrap is covering major parts of the island. According to TV-station Zvezda, there is a total of more than 60 thousand rusting oil barrels left on site.
The revival of the base comes after the signing of a decree by President Putin.
It is not all clear however, what will be the main work objective for Russia`s new Arctic base. The island of Kotelny on which the base will be located, is situated on 75 degrees north, thousands of kilometers away from the nearest settlement. According to a source in the Russian General Staff, the new base will help Russia protect oil resources in the area and strengthen control over the Northern Sea Route, newspaper Kommersant reports. However, there is currently no drilling in either the Laptev Sea or the East Siberian Sea and the number of vessels sailing along the Northern Sea Route, albeit increasing, remains modest.
