Ceremony to launch a new wintering complex at Vostok station

Founded in 1957, the Vostok station is located on the Antarctic ice dome at an altitude of 3,500 metres. The new wintering complex is a modular construction consisting of five blocks, covering an area of more than 3,000 square meters. It is designed to comfortably accommodate of up to 15 people in the wintering period and up to 35 people during the regular season.

Two residential blocks feature laboratories, personal rooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a recreation area, a gym, a sauna, and a medical centre with an operating room. The other two blocks are engineering facilities with boiler rooms, storage rooms, and electrical panel rooms with a generator. The fifth block contains a garage, a workshop, and a snow melter. The complex is insulated with mineral wool up to 95 cm thick, and the facade is made of composite panels that are resistant to extreme low temperatures. All the main equipment - for heating, energy and water supply - are Russian-made.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, Mr Lukashenko, good afternoon. Greetings to everyone.

The launch of the new wintering complex at the legendary Vostok station is a significant, landmark event for our polar scientists. I believe that is also significant for the whole country - I will explain why shortly, and I am sure you will understand the importance for the whole country - for our country, our partners, and our friends.

One of the key roles in the research and exploration of this continent belongs to our explorers and trailblazers. We cannot forget the Russian expedition led by naval officers Lazarev and Bellingshausen, who discovered this ice continent, as they called it, a little over two centuries ago.

This is our shared history, the history of our ancestors' endeavours, which both Russia and Belarus are rightfully proud of. It is well-known that our scientists have been actively working in the Antarctic since 1955, making hundreds of ground-breaking discoveries that have expanded the boundaries of knowledge.

To be continued.