Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations plans to supply to the country's Arctic regions and the Northern Sea Route Mil Mi-8 helicopters, designed for the Arctic, in 2026-2027, Deputy Minister Roman Kurynin told reporters.

"We have formed an Arctic grouping of new helicopters adapted for the Arctic. The goal is to ensure icebreakers' work safety along the entire Northern Sea Route," he said. "Six helicopters will be supplied in 2026-2027, and another three - later on."

According to Murmansk Region's Governor Andrey Chibis, the region received one Mi-8 helicopter in the Arctic design in 2023. It has been used actively in rescue missions. "This state-of-the-art helicopter has saved already, to put it mildly, more than one person, including in critical conditions when fishermen were in distress. The technological equipment and the pilots' skills saved people when the helicopter was hanging in the air with a wheel touching the rock. These helicopters cut significantly the risk of death," he stressed.