Obtaining the divisional characteristics of ice resistance on the hull is the basis of hull form optimization for icebreakers. At present, neither the real ship measurement nor the ice tank model test can effectively obtain the divisional characteristics of ice resistances at each part of the hull. In order to explore the ice resistance during the icebreaking process, the icebreaker "XueLong 2" was taken as the research object in this paper, and the ice force carried by each parts of the hull during the icebreaking process was analyzed by constructing a discrete element numerical model of the interaction of ship and ice. Firstly, a discrete element model of level ice with random-arranged elements was established, and the microscopic parameters of the model were calibrated according to the typical strength values of Arctic sea ice. Then, the ice resistance of "XueLong 2" calculated based on discrete element method was compared with that based on Lindqvist empirical formula. On this basis, the ice force value of each region of the hull was obtained through calculating zonally the ice force in the interaction process of ship and ice. The calculation results show that the icebreaking resistance accounts for a large proportion among the ice resistance of the hull generated in the icebreaking process, and the friction resistance caused by the slip of crushed ices is relatively small. The ice resistance of the hull is mainly generated in the area of bow, and the stem bears a significant icebreaking load. The divisional calculation method of ice resistance of icebreaker established in this paper can provide technical support for the hull optimization based on icebreaking capability.