Rosatom’s Atomflot has celebrated the 65th anniversary of the world’s only nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet, a milestone that commemorates the launch of Lenin, the first-ever nuclear-powered icebreaker, on December 3, 1959.

This groundbreaking achievement unlocked the transportation potential of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and revolutionized Arctic navigation.

Powered by two nuclear reactors, Lenin had a total thermal capacity of 318 MW and delivered 32 MW of horsepower.

It could operate for up to four years without needing to refuel. Over its 30-year service life, Lenin covered 654,000 nautical miles and escorted 3,741 vessels through the harsh Arctic ice.

Today, the iconic icebreaker is permanently docked at Murmansk seaport, where it serves as a museum and attracts over 60,000 visitors annually to its exhibition center dedicated to Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet.

Since the launch of Lenin, Russia has continuously advanced its nuclear icebreaking technology.

The current fleet, operated by Atomflot, now consists of seven nuclear icebreakers, including three vessels from Project 22220: Arktika (the lead universal nuclear icebreaker), Siberia (the first serial universal nuclear icebreaker), and Ural (the second serial universal nuclear icebreaker).

These modern vessels are powered by two RITM-200 reactors with a combined thermal capacity of 350 MW, delivering 60 MW of horsepower.

They are capable of operating without refueling for up to seven years and can navigate ice up to 2.9 meters thick.

With more than 90% of their components sourced domestically, these icebreakers are versatile, capable of adjusting their draft to navigate both deep-sea and shallow estuarine waters.

The continued advancement of Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet underscores the country’s commitment to maintaining its leadership in Arctic exploration and transportation, as well as its strategic importance in the global shipping industry.

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