Three individuals are dividing Russia’s Arctic reserves of rare earth elements, oil, and gas, according to a knowledgeable source at Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.
The resources are controlled by Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of the Russian Presidential Administration; Igor Sechin, President of the state oil company Rosneft; and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
Former Security Council Secretary and current head of Russia’s Maritime Collegium, Nikolai Patrushev, is no longer a key player in the Arctic, nor is his younger son Andrey Patrushev, who previously oversaw gas extraction on the Arctic shelf.
Instead, the “Arctic pie” is now divided among new favorites. Kiriyenko, through the unsanctioned Rosatom under his control, effectively manages the entire ecosystem of the Northern Sea Route. Rosatom owns key seaports via FESCO, and navigational and hydrographic support for shipping in the Northern Sea Route waters is provided through the “Hydrographic Enterprise,” part of Rosatom’s Northern Sea Route directorate.
According to the source, “Key Arctic rare earth deposits also fall under the influence of Rosatom and Kiriyenko.”
The second most influential figure in the Arctic region is Igor Sechin and Rosneft. The company controls the Zvezda shipyard in Primorsky Krai, effectively a monopoly on icebreaker production, built primarily for Rosatom. Rosneft also owns northern rare earth deposits, including the Tomtor carbonatite deposit.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, is also part of the Arctic pool. “He is trying to seize control over valuable rare earth deposits, positioning himself as a key player with projects like the Arctic Investment Fund. The aim is to ‘sell’ the Arctic to foreign investors at the highest price,” the source said.
Overall, Moscow seeks to leverage two resources—the Arctic rare earth deposits and the Northern Sea Route project. Both are closely linked, as the largest rare earth deposits are located in northern Russia (Murmansk region, Sakha-Yakutia), along the Northern Sea Route.
Currently, Russia lacks sufficient financial resources and the necessary technology to fully extract rare earth elements and export them via the Northern Sea Route infrastructure, making significant foreign investment essential.
Tactically, the Kremlin aims to secure both legal and de facto control over the Northern Sea Route, using restrictions on foreign vessel navigation. This includes attempts to implement regulations requiring mandatory approval for foreign military and civilian ships passing through ice-covered sections of the Northern Sea Route.
