Sputnik News today reported on an opening ceremony to commemorate the commencement of commercial production at an Arctic oil field.  Russian President Vladimir Putin said in part that “the economic development of Arctic territories – the launch of new large [oil] fields, became possible thanks to major infrastructure projects.”  Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller added that Russian energy exploration in the Arctic is “strategically important” and that this project “will be a key part of Russia’s powerful oil and gas complex in the circumpolar North.”