The new Vostok

The new Vostok as seen at the end of the 2023-24 austral summer. The sign НОВАТЭК on the front
of one of the modules is for the Russian contractor Novatek which has been constructing the station.
Briefly, from left the 5 modules are: A--emergency generator/storage; B--summer berthing, science,
medical; C--berthing, dining, gym, sauna, storage; D--power, utilities, shops; E--garage/cargo handling.

The installation and interior finishing of the first 3 modules C, D, and E was completed in the 2023 winter. These modules had been delivered by vessel to Progress on the coast (69º23'S-76º23.5'E) in 2021-22 and 2022-23, and installed and assembled through the 2023 winter. The other 2 modules were delivered and assembled in 2023-24. The 2023-24 summer also saw the systems in the first 3 modules tested, preparing for a "test winter"--during the 2024 winter 30 folks worked on the station, with the plans being for dedication and occupancy of the fully completed new station in January 2025.

The many traverses from Progress to Vostok were significant and arduous. The distance is 920 miles. In 2021-22 they delivered 1200 tonnes (1323 T) of new station construction material, and in 2022-23 they delivered a total of 2,486 tonnes (2740 T) including fuel and station supplies. The traverse equipment included the Pisten Bully Polar 300, Challenger MT865, and Russian Burlakvehicles.

The initial design concepts for the new Vostok were developed by the Copenhagen-based A&E firm Ramboll before details were developed by Russian firms.

One of the traverse vehicles hauling cargo to Vostok.

Setting the foundation supports for the new station. Doesn't
look like there are timbers under these.

The above information was provided by the Russian delegation to the September 2024 46th Antarctic Treaty meeting in Kochi, India, in this report which includes an unedited version of the photo at the top of this page...as well as their reports at the 2023 ATCM meeting in Helsinki and the 2022 meeting in Berlin, that report is the source of the above 2 photos. I've converted these reports to pdf's for simplicity. They contain much more interesting information, as does this page from a Russian aviation site describing the start to the 2023-24 season.

In December 2020 I previously published more information and photos about the new Vostok here. Also in December 2020, this PolarJournal page described the new station.