Great news: Hungarian flag to be flown at the North Pole in historic expedition
A young Hungarian will join Rosatom’s expedition to the North Pole, marking a significant milestone for the country. The expedition is scheduled to depart on 13 August, with the ship expected to reach the North Pole by 17 August and return to the port of Murmansk by 22 August.
For the first time, a Rosatom-sponsored Arctic expedition will include young foreigners, including a Hungarian student, according to Világgazdaság. The project, named “Icebreaker of Knowledge,” will bring together young people from Russia and representatives from various countries, including Hungary. For many participants, this will be the first time their country has been represented in the Arctic.
The expedition will be conducted aboard the 50 Let Pobedy (50 Years of Victory), the flagship nuclear icebreaker of Rosatom’s fleet. This journey will take students and young professionals from 14 different countries to the Arctic as part of the Icebreaker of Knowledge project.
The project’s goals are to promote science and nuclear technology, identify and nurture talented youth, develop their skills, and provide career guidance. The inclusion of international participants in this year’s expedition marks the 65th anniversary of Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet.
During the expedition, participants will engage in a variety of activities, including scientific lectures, experiments, and master classes. They will also learn about the Arctic’s unique flora and fauna, as well as developments along the North Sea shipping route. Upon reaching the North Pole, the young explorers will have the opportunity to fly their respective national flags.
Young people from many countries travel to the North Pole
The expedition is led by Captain Ruslan Sasov and follows the Murmansk–Franz Josef Land–Arctic route. Participants include young people from Russia, Bangladesh, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, China, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Mongolia, Armenia, Tunisia, South Africa, and Uzbekistan.
Hungary will be represented by Levente Varga, a student at the Budapest high school named after the famous Hungarian traveller and explorer Sándor Kőrösi Csoma. Varga’s journey and experiences can be followed on social media, depending on field conditions near the coast.
Varga shared with Blikk that he has already packed the Hungarian flag and is preparing for the trip, although he admits feeling a bit anxious. “I want to do everything very well and not bring shame to the Hungarians,” he said. “I belong to a generation in Hungary that has only seen traces of snow. I don’t ski, so I have no idea what to expect, but I know it will be cold,” he added.
Russia remains the only country in the world with a fleet of nuclear icebreakers. Rosatom has been responsible for operating and developing the infrastructure for the North Sea shipping route since 2018, a priority area for the company. In 2019, the Russian government approved a Rosatom-developed plan to enhance the North Sea Shipping Route infrastructure by 2035.
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