Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev mulls big money for upgrades of the local airport and university ahead of next year’s Arctic Forum.
High north military buildup:
About 50 brand new reinforced large weapons bunkers are under construction at Okolnaya Bay just north of Severomorsk.
The perfect land of the north first referred to by Greek historian Herodotus finds a home in the Kola Peninsula.
But there will be exceptions, Yuri Borisov underlines.
Energy company Gazprom will soon be able to deliver up to 150 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from its fields in the Yamal Peninsula.
Travel
Longread:
For visitors, the Russian town on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago combines the contrasts of pristine Arctic beauty and Soviet style industry. Nowadays, however, Barentsburg is reshaping its business-focus to become a modern Russian hub for explorer travellers.
Norway aims at being in the forefront in Europe of providing shore electricity to cut emission, but that might be a challenge at ports in the high north where power line capacity is limited.
Luxury cruise ship will next summer sail from Nome to Tromsø via the Northern Sea Route and then to Newfoundland via Greenland. In 2020, the idea is to circumnavigate the entire Arctic.
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Eyes on Barents
The present situation in which the Sámi Parliament of Finland must use a great deal of energy for election issues at the expense of other activities is not acceptable, researchers say.
Police has detained several of the protestors that participated in Sunday’s rally in downtown Murmansk.
After years of negotiations, Russia and Norway have still not signed an agreement on cross-border mapping of resources in the Barents Sea.
For a few years to come, gas from Russia’s Yamal Peninsula could be reloaded from ice-classed tankers to standard LNG-carriers outside Kirkenes or Honningsvåg.
Partners
Siste/ mest lest
Security
Eight Northern Fleet vessels sail out from the Kola Peninsula heading northeast on a long-distance Arctic voyage.
Last year, China and Russia had a joint naval exercise in the Baltic Sea. Now, possible practical forms of cooperation are discussed with the Northern Fleet.
Russia’s missing reactor-powered cruise missile in the Barents Sea obviously causes concerns, says Norway’s Environment Minister, Ola Elvestuen.
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Eyes on Barents
This is the story of a farmer trying to make something grow on a plot of land beyond the Arctic Circle
Eyes on Barents
The association Finnish Sámi Youth, Greenpeace and the artist group Suohpanterror arranged training in non-violent resistance in Inari, Finland
With a speed of 11 knots the «Venta Maersk» sailed through the most difficult part of the Northern Sea Route.
New fleet of LNG-carriers to serve Arctic LNG-2 plant supposed to be launched by 2023.
The boreal forest is even more crucial for the world to store carbon than the tropical rainforest.
The whale that this week stranded on the shores near Longyearbyen, Svalbard, should have been used as attraction for tourists, says local researcher Bjørn Frantzen.
An independent party campaigning against the closure of hospitals has come first in the county council elections in Norrbotten in the far north of Sweden, ending an age of Social Democrat dominance.
People of different ages and political views gathered in a peaceful rally that ended up on the doorstep of Governor Marina Kovtun’s office.
PHOTOS
Barentsburg panorama. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Barentsburg with the Grønfjord glacier. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The new restaurant Krasniy Medved (Red bear). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
With Lenin in front, the stele honouring communism was erected in 1974 to mark Svalbard's first multi-storey residential building. The text reads "Our goal is communism". The slogan in the mountain reads Mir i Mir - (Peace and Earth). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
A growing number of tourists are visiting Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Souvenir shop in Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Nordenskiöld glacier. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian post service in Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Arctic foxes. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The coal plant in Barentsburg consumes about 30,000 tons of coal annually. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Ivan Velichenko shows a bottle of the town's own vodka named Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Nordre Isfjorden National Park. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The new hotel in Barentsburg has room for 90 guests. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Lunchtime for this polar bear cub. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Old Finnish houses in Barentsburg. Nordre Isfjorden National Park in the background. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
A polar bear and a reindeer are on display in a corner at the library in Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The polar bear in the library wears helmet. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Upgrades of the infrastructure in Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coal mine facilities. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
GoArctica's boat is painted in Ukrainian colours. About 60% of the people living in Barentsburg are Ukrainians. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
GoArctic's boat "Barentsburg" has both Norwegian and Russian flag in the mast. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Russia has a rather large Consulate General in Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Waste sorting. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Samovar (tea boiler). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Arcticugol Spitsbergen is the state-owned company in charge of all activities in Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Rail tracks into the coal mine in Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coal miner. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coal mine. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Going deep-down. Mining operation today happens at 1,200 meters deep. Workers need about an hour to get down. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Back up after a long nights work in the mine. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
All coal mining happens underground. Photo: Thomas Nislen
Coal harbour from where ships bring the coal to England. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Maybe not the highlight of a guided tour in Arctic Barentsburg. The mine's waste dump. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The cultural palace has seats for 450 people. That is about everyone who lives in Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Kola Science Centre has a research station in Barentsburg. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Both Barentsburg and Pyramiden have their own vodka brands. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Nordenskiöld glacier. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The three-mast sailing ship Antigua at the Nordenskiöld glacier, Svalbard. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Sea King rescue helicopter exercising evacuation of people found at sea to a Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"OV Bøkfjord" - Operated by Norwegian Coastal Administration - participates in collecting oil spill at sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bent-Ove Jamtli is Director of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of North Norway. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coordinating radio traffic on the bridge of "KV Barentshav" during exercise Barents 2018. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Russian navy vessel "Elbrus" exercising oil spill cleanup with lense and skimmer. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Key players in exercise Barents 2018, Norwegians and Russians. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian offshore and tug vessel "Far Sabre" with oil spill lense. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Jan Pedersen is Senior Advisor with the Norwegian Coastal Administration's Centre for Emergency Preparedness. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Fast-roping to the deck of the Norwegian Coast Guard ship "KV Barentshav" from a Russian Mi-8 helicopter operating for the rescue service based in Murmansk. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "Farm" sailing in pair with a FSB Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Two of the "missing people" in the exercise were found on board this lift raft. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
In search for the "missing life raft" - Norwegian and Russian military and civilian ships and helicopters participated. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Fast-roping evacuation from a SAR-vessel to the helicopter. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Preparing for fast-roping from a rescue helicopter. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Lifting people to helicopter for evacuation is part of the exercise. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
A few of the "survivors" are safely on board a Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Smile for cooperation: Captain on bridge Frode Urke (left) and Head of the Northern Fleet's exercise unit Aleksandr Ulyanov (in the middle). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Speedy working boat shuttles people in between the Norwegian and Russian participating ships. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Russian Northern Fleet's new logistics support ship "Elbrus" and the civilian offfshore- and tug vessel "Umka" (in the horizon). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "Farm" with oil spill lense. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Igor Makeev is Captain Coordinator with Murmansk Sea Rescue Centre. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coast Guard officer on watch. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
From the bridge of "KV Barentshav" team coordinators watching oil-spill cleanup practicing by the Norwegian vessel "Far Sabre" towing a lense in the sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
This special equipped aircraft can both search for people at sea and possible oil-spill. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
This special equipped aircraft can both search for people at sea and possible oil-spill. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "KV Farm" and a Russian FSB Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Chief on "KV Barentshav" Frode Urke (left), Coordinator Captain for Murmansk Sea Rescue Centre Igor Makeev and Head of Northern Fleet exercise unit Aleksandr Ulyanov (right). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Exercise coordination room onboard Coast Guard vessel "KV Barentshav". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
With view to Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Teriberka municipal administration building. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Kiting in Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Snowmobile town Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Walking in Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Heading out for cross-country skiing. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Welcome to Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Views to Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Local life in Teriberka. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Speeding with home-made snowmobile. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Walking with the dog. Photo: Atle Staalesen
These representatives of the Northern Fleet’s motorized infantry brigade know how to chop a melon with a tank gun.
Eyes on Barents
People are taking a stand for nature in Sápmi, the Land of the Sámi, by showing concretely, through red lines, where they draw the line.
There is growing concern in nearby Norway about cooperation over the cleanup of Andreeva Bay
As if a symbol of clean intents for the Arctic, Chinese shipping company COSCO has sent 4 vessels loaded with wind power equipment through the Northern Sea Route.
Eyes on Barents
The situation is worst in the areas around the big plants, a new study shows.
State company Rosneft does no longer believe in a liquified natural gas plant in Indiga on the coast of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
Exploration drilling proves another almost 800 billion cubic meters of natural gas in offshore fields.
We see this as a serious incident, says the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
And the Norwegians should pay for it, says Deputy Governor Yevgeny Nikora.
The Heiss Island on the Franz Josef Land becomes new base for the Russian Arctic National Park.
Eyes on Barents
The sentence of blogger Savva Terentyev in 2008 was a violation of freedom of expression, the judges in Strasbourg say.
As the Northern Fleet unfolds a series of exercises in Russian east Arctic waters, Head Commander Nikolay Yevmenov announces the construction of a new base on the coast of the Laptev Sea.
Regional news journal 7x7 has started a major crowdfunding effort after it was fined an unprecedented 850.000 rubles by Russia’s state media inspection agency.
The biggest hole is now more than 60 meters wide and 200 meter deep.
More than 50 oceanographic researchers are on board Russia´s polar research flagship «Akademik Tryoshnikov» as it makes its way towards the Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea.
Eyes on Barents
18 houses in the village of Alakurtti have been without hot water for about a month
A total of 9,95 million tons of goods have so far this year been shipped to and from ports on the Northern Sea Route.
Norway’s Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen is clear: Our contact is good. We still have a direct line to Russia’s Northern Fleet.
Barents Must-Reads
The big winds that come in from the Barents Sea carry flush green power and profits. But developers are held back by sparse infrastructure. And a growing opposition from local groups.
Smile for military cooperation: Chief Officer at «KV Barentshav» Frode Urke (left) and Head of the Northern Fleet's exercise unit Aleksandr Ulyanov (in the middle) are happy to work together in the Barents Sea. The scenario is realistic; missing people and people in distress at sea and prevention of oil spill pollution.
Singer Vladimir Martynenko from Murmansk used to tour neighbouring Scandinavia with Russian ballades about faith and love. He was arrested and spent more than 2 years in Lefortovo after refusing to cooperate with the Federal Security Service.
The floating nuclear power plant «Akademik Lomonosov» now under tow towards Murmansk marks the start of a comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy in the Russian Arctic. New submarines, surface warships, icebreakers, seabed- and onshore mini-reactors as well as nuclear-powered military weapons are all queuing up in record speed. The Barents Observer gives you the overview.
It will be built by Italians and produce enough electricity for a quarter of the Murmansk population. But the Russian Arctic region might not really need it.
Olenya Bay on the coast of the Barents Sea is home to a fleet of nuclear powered spy submarines and surface vessels which NATO now says are dramatically stepping up activities around undersea data cables in the North Atlantic.