Preserving the Arctic is a prerequisite for a sustainable future for our planet. While the changes occurring here—from thawing of permafrost to increasing industrial burden—directly impact ecological balance in other parts of the world, the region is increasingly becoming of interest to businesses and states.
Said processes are particularly pronounced in the Russian Arctic. The curtailment of international cooperation after 2022, rising geopolitical tensions, militarization, and the growing influence of security structures are leading to isolation and reduced transparency. This complicates understanding of what is happening in the region and, in the long term, may result.
Who is really making decisions about the region’s development? How are resources and authority distributed? Where lies the boundary between formal power and informal interests? Finding answers to these questions is increasingly difficult.
An interactive map of key stakeholders (a graph) helps to understand who is shaping the Russian Arctic agenda today and makes the processes in the region more transparent and comprehensible.
The project has been launched in June 2025 and will be regularly updated.
What is the Graph and What’s its purpose?
The graph is a visualization and analysis tool that reflects the structure of influence in the Russian Arctic. It allows tracking how various actors—from state and commercial entities to experts and civil society representatives—interact through formal and informal connections.
Using the graph, it is possible to identify influence groups, uncover hidden connections, test hypotheses, refine context for research and investigations. It enables a deep analysis of the relationships between different actors and helps understand the logic behind decision-making in the Russian Arctic.
The Graph Structure and What’s Inside
The graph comprises three types of elements: individuals (i.e. persons playing a significant role in the Russian Arctic), connections – both formal: e.g., positions, memberships, and informal interests (e.g., affiliations, family, or professional ties), organizations (State, commercial, and public entities, including associations of Indigenous peoples).
All data is collected from open and partially open sources, manually verified, and updated. However, given the increasing opacity of registries, some information may be incomplete or outdated—we welcome any clarifications.
The graph is a dynamic platform. We continuously add new profiles and connections and are preparing integrations with other databases and tools.
How to Use the Graph
With our tool, you can:
- Find individuals, organizations, and connections between them;
- Explore the structure of influence and identify interest groups;
- Visualize intersections and key “nodes”;
- Export data for use in your own research, analysis, and publications.
Who’s Behind the Project
“Arctida” is a non-profit organization operating since 2022. We aim to make processes in the Russian Arctic more transparent, exposing violations and shadowy practices hidden beneath the ice. We investigate the impact of the climate crisis, infrastructure projects, resource extraction, politics, and corruption on the region’s ecology, Indigenous peoples’ rights, and governance. We publish investigations, analytical materials, and collect and verify data to reveal the real mechanisms shaping the Arctic’s future.
We’re Open to Dialogue and Feedback
If you notice an error, find a missing connection, or want to suggest a personality to add —please contact us.
We are also open to collaboration: joint publications, data analysis, and the use of our data in media, NGO, or research projects.
Write to us at [email protected].