Russia stakes Arctic claim

TWO deep-diving Russian mini-submarines descended more than 4km under North Pole ice to stake a flag on the ocean floor yesterday, as part of a quest to bolster Russian claims to much of the Arctic’s oil-and-mineral wealth.

Despite the dangers of diving under 1.5m-thick polar ice, both mini-submarines returned safely.

The Mir-1 resurfaced after spending eight hours and 40 minutes under water and the Mir-2 mini-sub returned an hour later.

“It was so good down there,” said expedition leader Artur Chilingarov, 68. “If someone else goes down there in 100 or 1,000 years, he will see our flag.”

The voyage has some scientific goals, including studies of the climate, geology and biology of the polar region. But its chief aim appeared to be in advancing Russia’s political and economic influence by strengthening its legal claims to the Arctic.

Expedition organisers said the greatest risk facing the six crew members, three on each vessel, was being trapped under the ice and running out of air. Each sub had a 72-hour air supply.

Strugatsky said the Mir-1 had to spend about 40 minutes near the surface before it found a patch of sea free of ice, Tass said.

“That was difficult,” said Chilingarov, who was aboard the Mir-1.