Russia says it will formally submit an application to the United Nations next year to redraw the map of the Arctic, giving itself a bigger share.
The plan follows the government's pledge last week to send troops and weapons north to guarantee its Arctic interests.
The formal application to the UN would change the region's borders and allow exploitation of energy-rich Arctic territory, Reuters reports.
Russia, Norway, the United States, Canada and Denmark are at odds over how to divide up the Arctic seabed.
According to the US Geological Survey, the seabed is thought to hold 90 billion barrels of oil and 30% of the world's untapped gas resources.
