Moscow

Russia, the world's only operator of ships that can break through thick oceanic ice sheets (nuclear-powered icebreakers), carried out an international scientific expedition to the North Pole. Russia's nuclear power agency, Rosatom, was appointed the infrastructure operator of the Northern Sea Route, a Europe-Asia sea route that passes almost entirely through the frozen Arctic, large parts of which are within Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 

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The respective countries would have rights over living and non-living resources in their EEZ, which is typically the stretch that extends 200 nautical miles from their shores. Rosatom considers the development of the Arctic infrastructure and shipping as one of its key tasks. 

Titled 'Icebreaker of Knowledge', the expedition aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker '50 Let Pobedy', involved participants from countries where the Russian nuclear power agency Rosatom is deploying nuclear technologies. 

This includes Mongolia, Hungary, India, China, South Africa, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Belarus, Armenia, Uzbekistan, and others. Fifteen experts, delegates selected at the World Youth Festival, joined the team on the voyage to the North Pole.

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The voyagers brought over their respective national flags to the top of the planet. When the team went on the icy shores, the captain of the nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy, Ruslan Sasov addressed them within the framework of the northernmost lecture course organised by Rosatom jointly with Znanie Russian Society. 

"Rosatom's Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition is going as planned. Representatives of 15 countries made the shortest round-the-world trip at the pole," the captain said.

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Rosatom's anniversary Arctic expedition "Icebreaker of Knowledge" is dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the nuclear icebreaker fleet. The present Russian nuclear icebreaker fleet includes seven icebreakers: the lead universal nuclear icebreaker Arktika, the first serial universal nuclear icebreaker Sibir, the second serial universal nuclear icebreaker Ural, the nuclear icebreakers Yamal, 50 Let Pobedy, Taimyr, and Vaigach.