The old wintering complex at Vostok Station in Antarctica has completed its service after more than 40 years of operation. This historic site was the location where the first geophysical and meteorological observations near the Earth's Southern Geomagnetic Pole began, the deepest ice core borehole was drilled, and the largest subglacial lake was discovered.
The historic Vostok facilities included living quarters, a diesel power plant, aerology buildings, garages, and the drilling complexes 1-Bis, 3G, and 5G. In mid-January, scientists decommissioned the power block, preserved the living quarters, and relocated to the new wintering complex (NWC Vostok). The only operational structure remaining is the 5G drilling complex named after Boris Kudryashov, essential for the drilling team from Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University. Its power supply has been connected to the new energy systems.
«We have relocated to the NWC Vostok, which consists of five independent two-story modules. The station is equipped with modern technology and can accommodate up to 70 polar researchers during the summer season, opening new horizons for scientific achievements. The new station is significantly more comfortable in terms of living conditions. Water collection is no longer a daily routine—it is now produced in large volumes using powerful equipment. Moreover, the water undergoes multiple cycles of purification and recycling, allowing for its reuse.
For the first time at Vostok, we now have hot showers, which has left a lasting impression. The station's internal climate is centrally managed with a ventilation system, and humidity and temperature can be easily adjusted individually in each room. A distinctive feature of the new complex is the centralized and independent nature of all life-support systems. A new era for Vostok has begun»,- shared Danil Serbin, an assistant at the Department of Well Drilling.
At the beginning of 2025, a sled-caterpillar convoy arrived at the station, delivering fuel, food supplies, and new scientific equipment. All the polar researchers participated in the loading and unloading operations, with particular attention paid to the food supplies transported in heated containers ("balaks") that needed to be quickly transferred to storage to prevent freezing. Most notably, the convoy brought research equipment for the drilling team, including a concentrated loading device, a stand for studying the ice-cutting process, and silicone fluid.
«During this period, we conducted several drilling runs and extracted ice cores from the lake, as well as expanded the borehole. Notably, we successfully completed borehole testing of a new mechanical reamer developed at the Arctic Research Center and manufactured at the experimental workshops of Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University. The tests demonstrated that the mechanical reaming speed increased by 168%, and the drilling progress by 137%. The mechanical reamer has been fully integrated into glacial drilling operations, which is undoubtedly a significant achievement», - reported Alexey Bolshunov, head of the Arctic Center Laboratory.
The cores have been processed, and more than a hundred ice samples have been prepared for studying their physical and mechanical properties using both destructive and non-destructive methods. Work at the drilling site is in full swing—our team at Vostok has not had a single day off this season.
«At present, we have conducted comprehensive maintenance of the equipment already stationed here. Everything is functioning smoothly. Borehole 5G is prepared for delivering silicone-based fluid to the bottom, thermobaric measurements have been carried out, samples of filling fluid have been collected from various horizons, and the results have been analyzed to monitor its condition. On-site, we have to address engineering challenges, such as upgrading the delivery device and testing each of its components. In this field, we are blazing a new scientific trail, so we proceed step by step, carefully considering every action», - said Sergey Ignatiev, Head of the Department of Descriptive Geometry and Graphics at Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University.
