Vladimir Voronin (captain)

In 1932 he commanded the expedition of the Soviet icebreaker A. Sibiryakov which made the first successful crossing of the Northern Sea Route in a single navigation without wintering.

This was regarded as a heroic feat of Soviet polar seamen and Chief of Expedition Otto Schmidt and Captain Vladimir Voronin were received with many honors on their return to Russia.

The icebreaker A. Sibiryakov continued in service until it was sunk in 1942 after an unequal fight with German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer during Operation Wunderland in World War II.

By the end of November it became obvious that the Chelyuskin would not break free from the pack ice and would have to winter on the Chukchi Sea.

Voronin and Otto Schmidt managed to jump off just in time before the Chelyuskin sank close to Kolyuchin Island.

The remaining passengers and crew of the ill-fated icebreaker Chelyuskin were rescued later and flown to Cape Vankarem on the Chukotka Peninsula.