Career
Olonkin was the only son among twelve children of a Norwegian mother and a Russian father. From 1918 to 1925, he was a radio operator and mechanic on the polar ship Maud, led by Roald Amundsen. Olonkin acquired Norwegian citizenship and worked at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
He served on January Mayen in the years 1928–1929, 1930–1931, 1933–1934, and 1935–1936.
From 1958 he worked in conjunction with an expansion of a LORAN station (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) on January Mayen. Cape Olonkin and Olonkinbyen at January Mayen have been named in his honor.