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When they say Arctic orbit, do they mean polar orbit? IE: North/south over both poles or something else?

Pure speculation on my part ...

Either they mean polar orbit as you say, or perhaps they mean Molniya orbit. Without being mentioned by name, the latter is perhaps an outside chance.

Oh, that's interesting, each satellite would have around 12 hours above the north, though at that distance, communications would be difficult. I guess with 9 satellites, it'd be something less extreme to maximize dwell and provide good comms.

Could you use balloons in the north like Google's Loon project? It's not that big of an area, but has to be hugely cheaper and simpler than satellites?

A big problem with balloons is the much lower altitude, requiring many more to cover an equivalent area (horizon is much closer).

Also, currently balloon relay technology has thus far proved impractical for long term, high reliability coverage, with longevity and long term station keeping being thorny problems.

Meanwhile, Russia understands well Molniya orbits, having used them for decades. So it wouldn't surprise me if indeed these new satellites are destined for such.

Yes: https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/arktika-m.htm

Also, the first was supposed to be launched in 2013, but launched last year. Take 2026 with quite a grain of salt.