Arctic ice traps Russian tankers, stranding ships for two weeks
A group of oil tankers waited up to 14 days in the Vilkitsky Strait after icebreakers failed to clear a path, challenging claims of a fully open Northern Sea Route.
By Hiroshi Ferrari ·
Two Russian tankers spent up to two weeks trapped in ice in the Vilkitsky Strait this July. The vessels became stuck in the strait, a 55 kilometer choke point between the northern Siberian coast and Bolshevik Island. Only one of the group managed to pass through. The others waited for nuclear-powered icebreakers that were several days away by voyage. Even with that assistance, the ships could not navigate the frozen water and eventually took a different route.
The delay contradicts the Kremlin’s narrative of a newly accessible Arctic passage. Moscow has promoted the Northern Sea Route as a way to move oil and gas farther from Ukrainian drone strikes and European naval patrols. While record volumes of crude and liquefied natural gas moved along the route this year, the conditions remain unpredictable. Ksenia Vakhrusheva, head of the Arctic project at the Lithuania-based environmental group Bellona, explained that melting ice can break up and pack tightly in narrow straits. She noted that this blocks ships without specific ice-class capabilities, illustrating that less ice does not mean easier navigation.
President Vladimir Putin has called the route a reliable and safe path to the world's largest markets. Last month, during the launch of the Vostok Oil project on the Taimyr Peninsula, he stated that 37 million tons of cargo moved along the route in 2025. He predicted that figure would almost double by 2030. In 2019, Kremlin officials targeted 80 million tons by 2024, a goal that has not been met.
Independent data presents a more modest picture of trade volume. The Norway-funded Center for High North Logistics reported that Russia shipped about 2 million tons of mainly crude oil, roughly 15 million barrels, along the full route to Asia by the end of September. Reuters cited traders and shipping data to report that the total reached about 20 million barrels by mid-October. This represents a 50 percent rise on 2025 levels but accounts for only around 1 percent of Russia's seaborne oil exports. Tomas Alexa, a senior analyst at the maritime security consultancy Ambrey, described the surge as coming from a relatively low base.
Western sanctions also complicate Russia's ability to maintain the route. Alexa said that spare parts and construction materials often must be routed through third parties. Repair work previously handled by Norwegian, Danish, and Dutch firms is no longer available. This limits the country's capacity to build and maintain Arctic-capable vessels and infrastructure.
Other nations are testing the route's viability. On October 22, South Korea reported that its first container ship had used the Northern Sea Route. Officials praised it as a shortcut to Europe but noted difficult conditions, including large ice floes in the Bering and Vilkitsky straits. China also ran a scheduled container service to Europe along the route for the first time this year, completing several voyages.
Catherine Sendak of the Center for European Policy Analysis noted that Russia regards much of the Arctic as an inner waterway. She said questions remain over possible tolls and the services Moscow would offer commercial vessels. She expressed doubt that Russia has good answers yet and wondered if Moscow might choose to limit access for other actors.
Security concerns are rising as the region becomes a front line of global power competition. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas made this observation on October 21 while outlining a new EU Arctic strategy. NATO launched its Arctic Sentry mission in February, and the United States announced plans last month to expand its military presence in Greenland.
Environmental groups warn of risks from increased shipping, particularly by aging shadow fleet tankers. Vakhrusheva stated that oil degrades more slowly in cold conditions and can spread over ice. This could accelerate climate change effects. She also noted that Russia publishes no information on incidents along the route, and the area is so remote that no independent group can report on them.
