On 22 August 2025, the sixth international Arctic expedition Icebreaker of Knowledge returned to the port of Murmansk. The initiative, supported by the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, marked a historic year – celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry and the 500th anniversary of the exploration of the Northern Sea Route.

Aboard 50 Let Pobedy, the flagship of Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet, young explorers from Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam completed a voyage along the route Murmansk – North Pole – Franz Josef Land – Murmansk.

The journey combined the excitement of adventure with a rich educational programme. Participants attended lectures by leading scientists and industry experts, conducted experiments in extreme polar conditions, explored the technical systems of the icebreaker, and witnessed Arctic wildlife first-hand – from polar bears and whales to seabirds. To mark Russia’s National Flag Day, the expedition members unfurled a massive tricolour flag on the deck, the very same flag they had earlier placed at the North Pole.

For the past six years, the Icebreaker of Knowledge project has been inspiring talented teenagers worldwide to pursue science and technology. Over 400 students have taken part in these Arctic expeditions, with many citing the journey as a defining step towards future research and discoveries.