Russia ‘denies’ Greenpeace entry to Arctic route

Russia has blocked a Greenpeace ship from entering Arctic waters where the environmentalist group was planning to protest against oil exploration activities by Rosneft and ExxonMobil.

Russian authorities denied the icebreaker Arctic Sunrise entry to the Northern Sea Route, citing questions over the vessel’s ice strengthening, Greenpeace said.

It said the Arctic Sunrise has a higher ice classification than many of the more than 400 vessels that have been granted access to the Northern Sea Route this year.