The Arctic will be a priority region for Russia's naval forces, the Northern Fleet said Monday, with boosted combat training and the scouting of lesser-known areas in the icy territory in 2014.

The Northern Fleet will conduct sailing and diving expeditions in the Arctic and develop a series of ice-class patrol ships to protect the country's interests in the region, spokesman Vadim Serga told reporters.

Serga added that 12 Russian warships, submarines and scientific ships visited the Arctic in 2013.

Russia has begun deployment of aerospace defense units and construction of an early warning missile radar system near the Polar city of Vorkuta. Completion of that system is planned for 2018.

In October, President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia would never "surrender" its Arctic area.