The Russian nuclear icebreaker ‘50 Let Pobedy’ returned to the port of Murmansk, Russia, yesterday, August 22, after completing a 10-day North Pole expedition. Titled ‘Icebreaker of Knowledge,’ the sixth international Arctic expedition was organized to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry and the 500th anniversary of the exploration of the Northern Sea Route.

Organized with the support of the Rosatom State Corporation, the expedition team comprised 66 selected school students from 21 countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Turkiye, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, and China, among others. Abdullah Al Mahmud, a tenth-grade student from Rajshahi Cadet College, represented Bangladesh on the expedition.

During the expedition, students attended several lectures by leading nuclear and space scientists and experts, conducted scientific experiments possible only in northern latitudes, and familiarized themselves with the design and operation of the nuclear icebreaker. Rosatom and Roscosmos also used the conditions at the North Pole to test simplified models of advanced mobile space rover platforms to be used for geological exploration.

In honor of Russia’s National Flag Day, participants unfurled the Russian tricolor during the arrival ceremony on board the ‘50 Let Pobedy’ nuclear icebreaker. Russian Flag Day has been observed since 1994.

The ‘Icebreaker of Knowledge’ scientific and educational project is organized by the Network of Nuclear Industry Information Centers (NIIC). The project aims to promote natural science disciplines and nuclear industry technologies, identify and support talented and gifted children, and develop their abilities and career aspirations. Over the project’s six seasons, more than 400 gifted school students have participated in Rosatom’s Arctic expeditions.

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is the shortest shipping route between the western part of Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region and is a historically significant national transportation artery of Russia. The first mention of the route along the seas of the Arctic Ocean dates back to 1525, when Russian diplomat Dmitry Gerasimov proposed using it for maritime communication between Russia and China. That moment marked the beginning of Russia’s history of exploring the Northern Sea Route, which will mark its 500th anniversary in 2025.

Russia is the only country in the world with a nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet. The fleet is operated by FSUE Atomflot, an enterprise of Rosatom. Today, there are eight nuclear-powered icebreakers in FSUE Atomflot’s fleet.