Ex-border inspector Frode Berg is now on his way home to Kirkenes after 23 months in FSB’s notorious Lefortovo prison in Moscow.
Goods volumes on the Russian Arctic route reaches 26 million tons.
They have conquered the Barents Sea and will continue to expand north- and southwards. King crabs might ultimately make it all the way to the coasts of the UK.
A coalition of environmental and conservation groups working on more environmentally sustainable shipping practices in the Arctic says it welcomes a decision by thirty expedition cruise line operators to forgo the use of heavy fuel oil while operating in the region.
The Northern Fleet complements its motorized infantry units with a series of new and powerful T-80BVM tanks.
Research - partner contents
Fram Centre
One hundred fifty years have passed since the birth of Johan Hjort (1869-1948). Best remembered for his groundbreaking theory from 1914 on the natural fluctuations of fish stocks, Hjort paved the way for materials and methods that are used to this day, not least in climate studies.
Fram Centre
A cold wind gust hits our small aluminium boat, and we crash into another rolling wave. Spray splashes up but, for once, the cold, salty drops are welcome. Everyone in the fieldwork team is sweaty and breathless but very much alive. That was a close call, but we made it!
Fram Centre
If you want to get Norwegians talking, just ask for their opinions on aquaculture. Use of pesticides to combat salmon lice in fish farms is a hotly debated topic all around Norway. But how much pesticide is actually spread in the environment? To find out, we’ve developed a new measurement strategy.
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Director of the group, Rodion Sulyandziga, says Russia’s goal with the shutdown is to keep indigenous peoples outside any international, Arctic and UN venues.
After years of negotiations and planning in the Sámi Parliament, the Finnish government has agreed to the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for Sámi peoples in Finland.
Moscow wants to know more about the country’s buildup of military capacities in the north.
A gradual halt in production is likely to take place before Nornickel fully closes its smelter in the Russian border town.
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Lapland:
Plans for the Republic of Santa Claus theme park north of Rovaniemi include a giant transparent dome with round-the-year artificial snowfall and northern lights, gingerbread houses, a tall Christmas-tree formed hotel and the world’s biggest sauna village.
Murmansk and Barentsburg could become vital ports for a new series of Russian medium-sized luxury ships aimed for grabbing a share of the booming Arctic expedition tourist market.
SeaDream’s new ship will be the most luxury expedition experience ever seen along the ice-edge north of Svalbard.
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The «Knyaz Vladimir» has successfully fired torpedoes on underwater and surface targets in the White Sea, the Northern Fleet informs.
Three U.S. B-52 strategic bombers; P8 maritime patrol aircraft, tankers and a RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft were flying over the Barents Sea on Wednesday. Norwegian F-16 fighter jets followed the huge American bombers to 31° East.
Three drilling rigs have this year spud wells in the Kara Sea and the Gulf of Ob.
The toxic smoke that for decades has embraced the borderlands between Russia and Norway might soon vanish. It will help save and restore vulnerable nature. But the local population worries that Nikel will end up as an abandoned ghost town
The diesel-engined vessel «Ob» is part of the state nuclear power company’s new conventional fleet of icebreakers.
Russian far eastern shipyard Zvezda is ready to start building of the first tanker for Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project
After the hottest Arctic summer on record follows the warmest ever fall.
PHOTOS
A "person" rescued from sea. Click on the photo for more gallery images. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The scenario for the Norwegian, Russian Exercise Barents 2019 is an explosion on tanker in the maritime border areas between the Varanger Peninsula and the Fishermen peninsula. Planes and ships are searching the area for 28 missing 'persons' in the sea. Here, a Russian military Iluchin-38, normally used in anti-submarine operations. On sea, the Northern Fleet's ship "Altay" and FSB border guard ship "Zapolariye". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The annual exercise was this year led by the Russian side. Captain on bridge on Russia's Marine Rescue Service North Branch show the maritime area for search. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Captain on bridge of the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "KV Sortland" in radio contact with the Norwegian resources for the exercise. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Crew members on "KV Sortland" on watch for 'persons' missing at sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "KV Sortland". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Russian Search- and Rescue (SAR) and oil spill recovery ship "Murman" with a military Iluchin-38. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Norwegian anti-submarine and surveillance aircraft P-3 Orion "Viking" flying over the search area. Like Russian aircraft were allowed to fly over Norwegian maritime area, the Norwegian aircraft were granted permission to cross the border to Russian airspace in the search area during the exercise. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
A Russian Northern Fleet Ka-27 search- and rescue helicopter in the skies over the three Russian vessels "Murman Ryba" (left), Northern Fleet's "Altay" and FSB Border Guard's "Zapolariye". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
One of the "missing persons" found in the sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coast Guard RIB on the water ready to pick up people from the water. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian coast guard RIB was put on the water in full speed towards the person who could be difficult to see in the high waves. In the cold water Barents Sea, every minute counts when saving lives. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Full speed towards the person in the sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
It can be hard to lift a man out of the water. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bringing the missing "person" safely on bord the Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
On watch for more people missing at sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Air Force's Sea King Search- and Rescue helicopter flying over Russian SAR vessel "Murman". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Sea King SAR helicopter arrives to pick up people and bring the to hospitals on the mainland. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Sea King SAR helicopter lifting people off the Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Sea King SAR helicopter lifting people off the Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bent-Ove Jamtli is Director of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Northern Norway (JRCC). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Happy after successful rescue mission. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "KV Sortland" sailing side-by-side with the Russian SAR vessel "Murmansk" in the Barents Sea search area. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Russian Northern Fleet SAR helicopter Ka-27 lift off people from "Murman" rescue vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Russian military naval Ka-27 rescue helicopter. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian and Russian military and civilian search- and rescue resources work side-by-side together during Exercise Barents 2019. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bringing up on of the "persons" from the sea to the SAR vessel "Murman". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bringing up on of the "persons" from the sea to the SAR vessel "Murman". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"Murman" is a Murmansk based rescue vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Oil spill preparedness was the second phase of Exercise Barents 2019. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Russian navy and civilian officers on bridge during Exercise Barents 2019. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian inner Coast Guard vessel "Farm" with the Russian Northern Fleet's "Altai" and a Mi-8 rescue helicopter flying the search area. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Norwegian Coastal Administration
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Marius Villanger / Norwegian Defense
Photo: KV Bergen / Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: KV Bergen / Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: KV Bergen / Norwegian Coast Guard
CLICK ON GALLERY TO SEE MORE. Apron and taxiways with the control tower. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Once upon a time, a busy runway for warplanes. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The mining town of Zapolyarny visible in the horizon from the huge closed down air base. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Woman on duty in the control tower. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
On the wall of the control tower. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Once upon a time, a Soviet military check-point. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Abandoned apartment blocks close to the air-field. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
«Peace on earth. We protected our freedom in fight». Photo: Thomas Nilsen
A golden bust of Yury Gagarin shines the glory of the town. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Abandoned apartments block. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
School bus in front of on of the few apartment blocks where people still are living. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The school in Korzunova. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
School bus ready to drive home the children from the military garrisons around Korzunova. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"Tankodrom" - Roadsigns in Korzunova are not like in any other towns. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
There are still some military activities outside of Korzunova. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Scrap metal from installations once upon a time important for the Soviet air force. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Corroded bust of Lenin stands in front of one of the abounded buildings in the town center. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Workers tear down some of the old houses in the center of Korzunovo. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Gagarin museum. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Inside the Gagarin museum. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
A golden Yury Gagarin shines glory over Soviet space history. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Colonel Yuri Korzunov, a Soviet hero pilot from World War 2, gave the name to the town of Korzunovo. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The newly rebuilt monastery in Pechenga. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Lapland tourism players are divided over a proposal to mitigate carbon emissions by introducing a flight tax. On Thursday, a citizens’ initiative aimed at implementing a tax passed the 50,000-signature threshold required for lawmakers to consider it. It notes that a similar scheme already in place in neighbouring Sweden adds between six and 40 euros to most airfares.
The «Gremyashchii» will test its Kalibr cruise missiles in the Barents Sea.
The tour operator pays respect to local indigenous culture.
From the vulnerable tundra lands of remote peninsula Taymyr will soon be extracted many million tons of coal. Much of it will be shipped along the Northern Sea Route to India.
Longyearbyen now has close to 2,400 inhabitants.
Experts say the country lacks the technology to implement the controversial legislation.
Global warming, regional cooling: -27 °C on Finnmarksvidda is extreme to be October. The county of Troms and Finnmark had several places with average temperature 2 to 4 degrees Celsius below normal for the month.
It’s time for Norway to abolish sanctions against Russia and instead introduce similar measures against the USA, Finnmark County Council leader Ragnhild Vassvik said during last week’s 2WW commemoration ceremonies.
Sailing fish from the Far East via the Northern Sea Route to St. Petersburg on board the nuclear-powered container vessel «Sevmorput» turned out to be less profitable than expected.
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Simultaneously as the Northern Fleet sails the largest submarine maneuverer since the days of the Cold War, the “Knyaz Vladimir” Borei-class sub for the first time launched a test missile that cross the Arctic an hit the target on Kamchatka in the Far East.
At least eight nuclear-powered submarines sailed out from their homeports on the Kola Peninsula last week, the Norwegian military intelligence says to NRK.
Russia’s military-patriotic Yunarmiya – or Youth Army – got Norwegian funding to tour the country’s northeastern border region. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee says representatives of such movement should not have been invited to a peace anniversary.
Russian state oil company Rosneft invites Indian companies to invest in the far northern Vankor area and the construction of a pipeline to the Arctic coast.
In her dissertation, researcher Nafisa Yeasmin looked at factors that negatively impact northward migration. The study showed that many immigrants feel socially isolated from the majority population.
Two Sierra-class nuclear-powered multi-purpose submarines will test new weapons and deep-diving in Norwegian Sea.
High-level confidence building in Norwegian-Russian borderland on Friday made foreign minister Sergey Lavrov to soften the wording on Norway’s military policy.
Norway’s king and prime minister met Russia’s Sergey Lavrov by a memorial devoted to Soviet liberation of Norwegian border town Kirkenes.
Barents Must-Reads
The front of Hornsundbreen is retreating every year and will eventually open a new strait between the Barents- and Greenland Seas through the island of Spitsbergen.
Gloomy pictures of climate change from the top of the world.
Single-entry visas for a stay of up to 16 days will come in the start. Later, the goal is to issue multiple entry e-visas.
Investments in regional infrastructure and natural resource development will over the next years be equivalent to the country’s federal budget on health and education.
Øyvind Aas-Hansen with the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) is happy to cooperate with Aleksandr Vazhenin and Pavel Borisov from the Emergency Response Centre of Rosatom, Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation. A sharp increase in nuclear-powered vessels in Arctic waters causes concern among international safety experts who recently teamed up on a voyage to the Bear Island and Svalbard to see how drones can be used to detect possible hazardous radiation.
«We will never be able to have a 100 percent rescue preparedness around Svalbard,» says Bent-Ove Jamtli, Director of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of North Norway. He calls on the cruise operators themselves to carry life-saving equipment for mass evacuation in cold climate.
