[9] As of December 2024[update], four Project 22220 icebreakers (Arktika, Sibir, Ural and Yakutiya) are in service, fifth (Chukotka) has been launched, sixth (Leningrad) have been laid down at Baltic Shipyard in Saint Petersburg, and seventh (Stalingrad) is on order.

The second phase, which began in the early 1970s and continued until the dissolution of the Soviet Union, further expanded the Soviet icebreaker fleet with additional nuclear- and diesel-powered icebreakers that enabled uninterrupted year-round operation in the western part of the Northern Sea Route as well as extended the navigating season in the eastern sector.

The latter operation was made possible by the novel dual-draft functionality, ability to de-ballast the vessel when approaching shallow coastal areas.

Other technical characteristics of the next-generation nuclear-powered icebreakers were drawn from the Russians' extensive operational experience from Arctic shipping.

In addition, escorting Russian Arctic cargo ships such as the then-common SA-15 type safely and efficiently in heavy ice conditions would require an icebreaker with a beam of 32 to 33 metres (105 to 108 ft) and a displacement of 34,000 to 36,000 tonnes (33,000 to 35,000 long tons).

[21][22] In January 2023, the Russian government allocated 58.9 billion rubles (about US$820 million) for financing 50% of the construction of two additional Project 22220 icebreakers[23] and the shipbuilding contract was signed on 2 February.

[31][32] Arktika began the first stage of sea trials in Gulf of Finland under diesel power on 12 December 2019 and returned to Saint Petersburg two days later.

[33][34] The next sea trials, during which the vessel would be tested under nuclear power for the first time, commenced on 23 June[35] and concluded on 13 July.

[36] Shortly after completing the final sea trials by mid-September,[37] Arktika sailed from Saint Petersburg to Murmansk via the North Pole where the icebreaker arrived on 3 October.

[52] The name had previously been selected for the final Arktika-class icebreaker when it was laid down in 1989, but during the construction the vessel was renamed 50 Let Pobedy (Russian: 50 лет Победы, lit.

[61] The vessel, delivered on 28 December 2024, is named Yakutiya (Russian: Якутия; after the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)).

In order to be able to operate efficiently both in shallow Arctic river estuaries as well as along the Northern Sea Route, the draught of the Project 22220 icebreakers can be varied by taking in and discharging ballast water.

The onboard nuclear power plant consists of two RITM-200 pressurized water reactors with a thermal output of 175 MWt each.

The reactors, developed by OKBM Afrikantov, use up to 20% enriched Uranium-235 and, when operating with a capacity factor of 0.65, require refueling every seven years over a 40-year planned service life.