As part of the European Arctic Stratospheric Ozone Experiment (EASOE) in the northern winter of 1991/92, regular measurements of the vertical distribution of ozone and aerosols were carried out from two Russian polar stations, Heiss Island (81N,58E) and Dikson Island (73N,81E). In addition measurements of the vertical distribution of water vapor and aerosols were made from Esrange (68N,21E), near Kiruna in Sweden. The instruments used were electrochemical ozone sondes (ECC-4A), a fluorescence hygrometer, and the University of Wyoming backscattersonde. Following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, in the Philippines, in June 1991, volcanic aerosol had reached Arctic latitudes at altitudes below 19 km by September. At all three sites it was observed on every flight. Polar stratospheric clouds were encountered above the volcanic aerosol on two flights from Esrange. There were no indications of dehydration in the Arctic stratosphere. On all flights the minimum mixing ratio of water vapor was observed 2 to 3 km above the tropopause. Total ozone was much lower than the climatological mean, over Dikson Island from the January 27, and over Heiss Island from mid-February, until the end of EASOE. Ozone profiles over these stations showed rapid increases in partial pressure immediately above the peak values of backscatter ratio when the volcanic aerosol was especially dense. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1994