Tankers Wait 14 Days in Vilkitsky Strait

Russian tankers spent up to two weeks anchored in the Vilkitsky Strait in July after becoming trapped in ice. The strait, located just above the Arctic Circle, is a 55 kilometer wide choke point between the northern Siberian coast and Bolshevik Island. It serves as a critical segment of the Northern Sea Route to China. Two nuclear-powered icebreakers were positioned several days away when the vessels became stuck.

Only one of the sanctioned tankers managed to pass through the ice. The remaining vessels waited for the icebreakers to arrive. Even with that assistance, the ships could not navigate the narrow passage. They eventually altered their course to take a different route to their destinations.

The delay challenges the Kremlin’s narrative of a fully open and efficient Arctic passage. President Vladimir Putin has promoted the Northern Sea Route as a reliable path to global markets. Last month, at 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 this volume would almost double by 2030. In 2019, officials had targeted 80 million tons for 2024.

Actual shipping figures suggest a more modest trajectory. The Center for High North Logistics reported that Russia shipped about 2 million tons of cargo, roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil, along the full route to Asia by the end of September. Most of this traffic originated from Murmansk. Reuters reported that total volumes reached about 20 million barrels by mid-October. This represents a 50 percent increase over 2025 levels, though it accounts for only about 1 percent of Russia’s total seaborne oil exports.

Tomas Alexa, a senior analyst at Ambrey, described the volume increase as a surge from a relatively low base. He noted that Western sanctions complicate Russia’s ability to maintain Arctic-capable infrastructure. Spare parts and construction materials often require routing through third parties. Repair services previously provided by Norwegian, Danish, and Dutch firms are no longer available to Russian vessels.

Other nations are beginning to use the route as well. South Korea reported on October 22 that its first container ship had completed a transit of the Northern Sea Route. Chinese operators also ran a scheduled container service to Europe for the first time this year. Ksenia Vakhrusheva of Bellona explained that melting ice can break up and pack tightly in straits, blocking ships that lack specific ice classification. She noted that less ice does not automatically mean easier navigation.

Security and environmental concerns are rising alongside commercial interest. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas stated on October 21 that the Arctic has become a front line of global power competition. NATO launched the Arctic Sentry mission in February, and the United States announced plans to expand its military presence in Greenland last month. Environmental groups warn that oil spills degrade more slowly in cold conditions. Vakhrusheva added that Russia publishes no official data on incidents along the route, and the remoteness of the area prevents independent reporting.