Russian marines have been conducting military drills in temperatures as low as -30°C near the city of Murmansk, close to the borders with Norway and Finland. The training, released by the Russian Ministry of Defence, shows elite soldiers in white camouflage uniforms performing weapons exercises with AK-74 assault rifles, grenade launchers, and explosives in deep snow.
A Russian defence spokesman stated that the harsh weather conditions were chosen to ensure troops are prepared for combat in all environments. The drills took place in Murmansk, the largest city inside the Arctic Circle, which served as a key Soviet outpost during World War II and the Cold War.
Murmansk has declined since the Cold War but remains a major Arctic port. Nearby Severomorsk hosts the Russian Northern Fleet headquarters. Analysts suggest the city could become a strategic stronghold again as tensions with the West rise and competition for Arctic mineral reserves intensifies.
