Additional research for the Russian claim was planned over 2007–2008 as part of the Russian program for the International Polar Year. The program investigated the structure and evolution of the Earth's crust in the Arctic regions neighbouring Eurasia, such as the regions of Mendeleev Ridge, Alpha Ridge, and Lomonosov Ridge, to discover whether they were linked with the Siberian shelf. Major means of research during the expedition were the "Akademik Fedorov" research ship, the "Russia" nuclear icebreaker with two helicopters and geological probe devices, and Il-18 aircraft with gravimetric devices.