Boris A. Vilkitsky

Russian naval officer

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July 14, 2026

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Boris A. Vilkitsky was a Russian naval officer who played a crucial role in the exploration of the Northeast Passage. In 1913, he commanded the icebreakers Taymyr and Vaygach, which discovered the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago. The following year, Vilkitsky led these ships on a westward journey through the passage, aiming for Arkhangelsk. Though forced to winter on the coast of Taymyr, they successfully completed the through passage in the summer of 1915. This achievement was part of a larger effort to map the Arctic coast of Siberia and establish a viable northern sea route.123

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Arctic
Conquest of the Northeast Passage
Boris A. Vilkitsky, the two ships set off westward intending to reach Archangel, but they were forced to winter on the west coast of Taymyr and completed the through passage in the summer of 1915.
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Boris A. Vilkitsky, the two ships set off westward intending to reach Archangel, but they were forced to winter on the west coast of Taymyr and completed the through passage in the summer of 1915.
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