Russia is beginning to actively develop the Arctic, where the country's future lies, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday, while opening youth centers in Russian regions.

“Now it is clear that Russia's future lies in the Arctic — among other places and perhaps to an even greater extent — in the development of the Arctic, which we are actively beginning to develop,” Vladimir Putin said.

Two youth centers opened in the Arctic zone over the weekend. The Sova (Owl) art residence opened in Novy Urengoi, and a youth construction teams’ headquarters was launched in Arkhangelsk.