A Russian icebreaker on Thursday forced its way through ice to reach icebound ships in the Sea of Okhotsk, off Russia's far eastern coast.
Admiral Makarov is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away from the ships, its captain said.
Three ships have been trapped since Friday in ice two meters thick. Two more ships became stuck on Monday but were freed two days later.
On Monday, Magadan icebreaker got stuck while trying to rescue the icebound vessels.
A third icebreaker is on its way to reach some 400 people on the three ships stuck since last week, who have sufficient fuel, food and water.
MOSCOW, January 6 (RIA Novosti)
