Moscow plans expansion of nuclear icebreaker fleet to 11 by 2030

Russia plans to expand its nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet with the construction of four additional vessels by 2030, Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev said during the International Transport and Logistics Forum, according to TASS.

Savelyev stated that the new vessels will bring the total number of nuclear icebreakers in operation to 11 by the end of the decade. “By 2030, four more nuclear icebreakers will be built. According to the plan, the total number will reach 11 units,” he said.

He added that Russia continues to develop both its port infrastructure and its icebreaker fleet as part of broader efforts to strengthen its capabilities in the Arctic.

Highlighting the current fleet, Savelyev said Russia remains “the only country possessing a unique fleet in the Arctic,” consisting of 43 icebreakers in total. This includes 8 nuclear-powered vessels and 35 diesel-electric icebreakers.

In addition, construction has already begun on what will become the ninth nuclear-powered icebreaker, named Stalingrad.

By Tamilla Hasanova