More comfortable living for Russia's Arctic elite soldiers

Five barracks will be torn down and replaced by a series of new two-floor houses, the Northern Fleet has decided.

The new barracks will be standard buildings that are quick to erect. They will be adjusted for the tough conditions of the north, military representatives told Northern Fleet Head Commander Nikolay Yevmenov during a visit late June.

The foundation for the new buildings is be completed by the end of October.

Sputnik is located only few kilometres from the border to Norway. It houses Russia’s 61st Naval Infantry Brigade, the so-called Kirkenes Brigade.

The brigade is believed to be one of the best trained and most combat experienced units of the Russian military. Soldiers from have participated in several armed conflicts, including in Chechnya, Syria and eastern Ukraine.

Sputnik houses more than 2,000 people, most of them soldiers serving on contracts. The orginal name of the settlement was originally Kakuri. It got its current name in 1960.

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After his meetings in Sputnik, Nikolay Yevmenov went to nearby Navy base of Gazhievo where he took a look at the construction of a new munitions depot and storage facilities for nuclear powered submarines. Following the inspection, there was taken a decision on equipment for the base, the Northern Fleet press service informs.