Russia is stepping up its military involvement in the war in Ukraine by trying to expand its forces. However, the country is facing challenges in finding new soldiers due to the high number of casualties. It remains unclear how long Vladimir Putin can sustain his military efforts, especially as Russia may soon run into shortages of either soldiers or financial resources. The war has placed a huge demand on funding, and Putin is relying on a large, hidden oil reserve in the Arctic. This reserve includes billions of barrels of oil, new routes for exporting the resource, and a powerful, secretive fleet of ships. Russia is working on a system that would allow it to continue selling its oil despite Western sanctions. These sanctions aim to limit Russia's ability to conduct international trade and weaken its economy. However, by using its Arctic oil and the phantom fleet, Russia hopes to bypass these restrictions and maintain its economic and military operations. The hidden oil reserve in the Arctic is a strategic asset for Russia, giving it the potential to remain a major player in global energy markets. The development of new export routes is particularly important, as it would allow Russia to send oil to countries that are not part of Western sanctions. This could help Russia maintain economic stability and continue funding its war in Ukraine. The phantom fleet, which is a term used to describe a fleet of ships that are not publicly acknowledged or tracked, is also playing a role in Russia's strategy. By using these ships, Russia can avoid the scrutiny of international monitoring systems and continue exporting oil in a way that is difficult to trace. This approach could help Russia maintain its energy exports and fund its military operations in Ukraine for an extended period.