Russian polar team on its way home

Russia's scientific polar team is to meet with the Mstislav Keldysh research vessel ship near Franz Joseph Land to hand over two Mir deepwater submersibles. Pilots and technicians, who took part in the North Pole dive, will also board the Keldysh to be tr

The ten day expedition explored the sea bed of the Arctic and planted a Russian flag there.

The mission was to collect geological evidence proving that a vast underwater area of the Lomonosov ridge, rich in oil and gas, is a continuation of Russia's continental shelf.

The trip sparked criticism from Canada and the U.S. The Americans are now sending their own icebreaker to the North Pole for what it calls a preplanned research mission.