RIA Novosti: Russia Unprepared for War in Arctic

MOSCOW, November 5 (RIA Novosti) ­ Russia is unprepared for a war in the Arctic, a government report says.

The country, which has the longest Arctic border, would be unable to quickly respond to an attack in the area, the Regional Development Ministry said in an assessment of risks to economic interests in the Far North.

Russia’s northern border checkpoints are underequipped, and servicemen lack proper training for fighting in the harsh climate, according to the report, released Monday.

The country has embarked on an ambitious plan for developing Arctic areas by the year 2020, including substantial deployment of military units to protect its political and economic interests.

A fifth of Russia’s territory is in the Arctic, but only 1.6 percent of the population lives there.

Local population decline, including among indigenous peoples, climate change and potential environmental damage are among other threats to Arctic development, the report said.