Russian Paratroopers Conduct Exercises 33,000 Feet Over The Arctic

Daily Mail: Russian paratroopers jump from 33,000ft over the Arctic as Putin expands his focus on the strategic region

* Paratroopers jumped from height of 32,808 feet from Ilyushin Il-76 airlifter
* Jump took place over Aleksandra Land, part of archipelago of Franz Josef Land
* The soldiers were wearing 'special parachute systems' and oxygen equipment
* Russian president Vladimir Putin has focused on the Arctic region in recent years

Russian paratroopers wearing oxygen masks and white camouflage jumped 33,000ft out of a plane over the Arctic as part of a war games exercise.

The paratroopers reportedly jumped from a height of 10,000 metres (32,808 feet) from an Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlifter.

The soldiers were wearing 'special parachute systems' and oxygen equipment and carried out combat training missions lasting three days after landing.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has placed increasing importance on the Arctic region in recent years, as it is believed to hold up to one quarter of the Earth's undiscovered oil and gas.

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Update #1: Russian Commandos Jump From 33,000 Feet Over The Arctic In Unprecedented Exercise (Warzone/The Drive)
Update #2: Paratroopers jump at 10,000 meters over Russian Arctic base (Barents Observer)

WNU Editor: Quoting Russian Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Yanus-Bek Yevkurov ....

.... “Today, for the first time in world history, we conducted a group landing of personnel with special parachute systems in Arctic conditions from a height of 10,000 meters using oxygen equipment followed by combat training missions,” said Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Yanus-Bek Yevkurov.

He added: “Nobody has done such a thing before us.”