New soil samples prove the Arctic is ours: Russia

It first made the claim to the United Nations in 2001, but now intends to show it new evidence.

"At the present time we are preparing rock samples and materials to document and present to the United Nations commission on ownership of the continental shelf," the statement said.

Last month's expedition, when a mini-submarine dived from a command ship 4,200 m (13,000 feet) below the sea and planted the Russian flag with a mechanical arm, triggered international allegations of a Kremlin stunt.