Imperialism: Russian Forces Annexe Arctic

Russia is planning to create a crack group of special military forces to help carve out and patrol the Arctic, which it claims is its territory.

The area will be controlled by Russia's shadowy secret service, the FSB - the successor organisation to the KGB.

A new document released by the Presidential Security Council lays bare Russia's aggressive military intentions for the disputed region.

The country's military elite have stated in the past how they are prepared to fight wars in the Arctic as the scramble for natural resources in the region heats up.

Russia launched an expedition to the Arctic in August 2007.

A team of scientists on board an atomic icebreaker placed a Russian tricolour on the seabed making a symbolic land grab.

The Arctic - with its untapped bounty of oil, gas and minerals - has become a new frontier in the cold war between Russia and the West.

Moscow's claim is disputed by the four other Arctic nations - the United States, Canada, Norway and Denmark.

Arguments over who controls the Arctic are becoming more confrontational.