Soviet and Russian historian, doctor of historical sciences
A memory of the future or "Swim, Britain, by the seas!".
In mid-February, energetic British Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson announced plans to deploy British troops in the Arctic to counter Russia. He defiantly did this at the base of his marines in Norway ...
And at the same time he promised the descendants of the fierce Vikings, who had once been shaking the British Isles like a Tuzik heating pad for two centuries, to teach them martial art. It was even a shame for the courageous Norwegians.
... In this regard, I want to refresh in your memory only two characteristic episodes.
Episode 1. London's Dreamers
Since the middle of the XVI century, the British, not stinting on expenses, sent one expeditionary ship after another to the Sea of Ice [the Cold Sea] to pave the way to a country that, as the then English poet enthusiastically and figuratively wrote, "attracted everyone with the wealth of sables."
The British voyages along the northern sea routes, which had been long mastered by Russian Pomors, were perceived in Britain as outstanding feats of national significance. In 1556, the English captain ... tried to reach Vaygach Island, but when faced with ice, he retreated. Here in heavy ice he unexpectedly met a whole flotilla of Russians - four Pomeranian sailing ships were engaged in ordinary fishing - they beat walruses and polar bears. The pilot of one of the ships, nicknamed Loshak, invited ... [English captain] to the ship, eagerly outlined the British the whole of northern geography, which later formed the basis for the captain's report to the British authorities. He said that in the northeast lies the vast island of Novaya Zemlya (the captain carefully wrote down the unfamiliar words - 'Novaya Zemlya' ['Novaya Zembla']. So the islands were indicated for a long time on European maps). He spoke about Vaigach and the path to the mouth of the Ob. The captain again meticulously recorded the precious information in the documents. Loshak simple-heartedly promised to lead them to the Gulf of Ob, thanked for the hospitality and left for his sailboat. Soon after, because of the storm, the British lost sight of the Russian ships and, again faced with the ice, turned back ...
Episode 2. The Northern Front
An attempt a century ago to establish itself in the Russian North was much more serious than the reconnaissance expeditions of previous centuries and the exploits of ... [English captain]. Do you remember the Northern Front of 1918-1920? He passed through the indigenous Russian lands. And it was just a century ago, during the intervention of yesterday's allies of Russia in the First World War ...
Both of the above plots occurred during the weakening of Russia. The first - during the economic ruin and on the threshold of the Time of Troubles, the second - in times of revolutionary strife and civil war. Already from this it is clear what we can never allow. Williamsons come and go, and the British lion even on Uncle Sam's leash continues to search for prey ... [unofficial translation]
The Arctic Council is an international forum created in 1996 at the initiative of Finland to protect the unique nature of the northern polar zone. '
(...)
On May 14, 2011, a meeting of the Arctic Council was held in Nuuk (Greenland). On it, all eight countries included in the council signed an agreement on cooperation in aviation and marine search and rescue.
(...)
In March 2017, a meeting of the Russian-Chinese intergovernmental commission chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia and China Dmitry Rogozin and Van Yang took place on the sidelines of the Arctic - Territory of Dialogue forum in Arkhangelsk ... "
"Vikings
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[...]
... In the annals of Kievan Rus', they were known as Varangians ...
(...)
... the version brings together the etymology of West European Viking Normans and East European Varangians-Rus' (if, like most researchers, we accept that the word Rus goes back to the Old Norse root rods- 'oar'). In this case, the Vikings and Russia come from the roots associated with oars and a rowing. (...) "
February 26, 2019 00:09
Translation from Russian into English: June 8, 2020 05:54.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Рассказ об интересе к Новой Земле и к белым медведям 26 февраля 2019 г.'.