Report to Congress on Russia’s Arctic Military Posture

Report to Congress on Russia’s Arctic Military Posture

The following is the Oct. 14, 2026, Congressional Research Service report, Russia’s Arctic Military Posture: Considerations for Congress. From the Report The Arctic is a key strategic region for Russia with significant military and economic implications. Russia is the largest of the Arctic states in terms of territory, stretching over 24,000 kilometers of coastline. The Arctic is central to Russian strategic and military concerns and is home to Russia’s Northern Fleet, which operates about two-thirds of Russia’s submarine-based nuclear deterrent, according to the U.S. intelligence community’s 2026 Annual Threat Assessment. The Arctic also plays an important role in Russia’s energy