Oil spills in permafrost environments have a significant impact on natural ecosystems due to the severe climate and low temperatures that reduce the rate of biological and chemical degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. These soils slowly self-purify from oil contamination in Arctic landscapes with high moisture and low temperatures. The intensity of hydrocarbon migration depends on the soil texture, thickness, and moisture content as well as the thickness of the active layer. The peat horizon in Arctic soils plays an important role in the distribution of pollutants. It serves as a biogeochemical barrier, reducing the possibility of the lateral and radial spread of pollutants. The break-down of petroleum hydrocarbons is accompanied by changes in their composition: the concentration of n-alkanes decreases and the content of heavy fractions, resins and asphaltenes, increases over long periods due their preservation in permafrost environments. Significant differences have been shown between measurements obtained using infrared spectroscopy and those obtained by the fluorimetric method. Degradation of the cryolithozone under the influence of oil spills is local in nature, and this type of impact does not have any significant effect on global climate change.