I think so

find a source, not the russian waters but martin bay/ labrador 1944

"U-537’s bosun, Oberbootsmann Martin Strasser (centre) beams with pride on the afterdeck of the submarine as he poses with other crew members and the polar bear he shot near the weather station installation."
http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/S...13/Icefire.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Station_Kurt

another polar bear hunt

The polar bear on the deck of U 307 submarine in Albertini Bay, September 1944.

The lighter side of life at Worldie Bay as H. Semkat (left) and H. Reyer (right) hold two young polar bears. 22April 1945