Two Russian mini-submarines have made a test dive to the floor of the Arctic Ocean, as part of the nation's attempt to claim territory on the seabed.
Moscow has argued that waters near its most northerly islands are part of its maritime territory and plans to plant a Russian flag on the ocean floor four kilometers below the North Pole.
The subs made the 1.3 kilometer dive to test the structure of the seabed - if the makeup of the Lomonosov Ridge is found to be comparable to geological formations within Russia's territory, its shelf could be extended towards the Pole.
Arthur Chilingarov, a polar explorer and member of the Russian parliament, commented on the trip.
"We face the most severe and risky task, to descend to the depths, to the seabed, in the harshest of oceans, where no one has been before and to stand in the centre of the ocean on our own feet," he said.
"Humanity has long dreamt of this."
The Russian government hopes that it will be able to access valuable oil, gas and mineral reserves if its claim to the seabed is successful.
