As a vulnerable species, regular estimates of polar bear numbers are an important requirement for understanding their populations. In the Russian part of Barents Sea, specifically near the Franz Josef Land Archipelago, counts of polar bears have not been conducted since 2004. This article focuses on summarizing the results of recent observations in this territory in order to provide estimates of polar bear numbers. The data collected lead us to believe that their population decline continues. Currently only a few hundred polar bears inhabit Franz Josef Land in the spring season.