The Independent Barents Observer |

Northern Fleet exercise area overlaps into Norway's EEZ amid Europe tensions

Article

EU willing to co-fund lifting of sunken nuclear subs from Arctic seabed

Longform

History and truth

The Russian Ministry of Defense is building a war memorial in Northern Norway

Longform

Russian North

"We are on our own and Russia is on its own"

Article

New Barents Observer report

Repression by Law: Independent media as an enemy of the state

Norwegian sub gets 'technical challenges' on Arctic coast as snowstorm approaches

Conflicts on the rise

Significant metals discovery in key reindeer herding land

Finnish shipbuilders contract powerful icebreaker for Russian Arctic

Research - partner contents

Fram Centre

Fjord ice in Svalbard—an important kindergarten for seafloor animal babies

Fram Centre

What does the arctic fox eat?

Fram Centre

Rockslides in the Arctic: Why do we care?

The Barents Observer Newsletter

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More drilling

"A blind investment in oil"

Russia's grand Arctic plan might get stuck in the ice

Shipping industry needs to do more to lessen underwater noise in Arctic, say NGOs

Indiga

Putin instructs government to get new Barents Sea rail link back on track

Podcasts

In times of tensions, high north commanders maintain hotline to avoid misunderstandings

The Barents Observer · Заполярные командующие поддерживают прямой контакт, чтобы избежать недопонимания

Opinions

Anita Margrethe Halvorssen

My new attempt to change minds about the climate crisis

Mads Qvist Frederiksen

Winds of Change

Alina Bykova and Pavel Sulyandziga

A year after Arctic fuel spill, Norilsk Nickel continues to ignore Indigenous critics

Reitan-Severomorsk

In times of tensions, high north commanders maintain hotline to avoid misunderstandings

Garrison of Sør-Varanger

62 soldiers on Norway’s border to Russia infected with Corona

Climate dilemma

Norway makes more money on oil than ever

Two NATO carrier groups will sail north for exercise Cold Response

Climate change pushes orcas to migrate further north

30–50% of critical northern infrastructure could be at high risk by 2050 due to warming, says study

Powerful icebreaker

"Sibir" sails maiden voyage around Scandinavia

"Severny Polyus"

Russia's new North Pole platform soon ready to move into ice

PHOTOS See more

CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS. The soldiers with the engineering squad make ready one of the anti-tank mines. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Ultimost careful when handling high-explosives. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The training ground for detonating explosives is down deep in a closed open-pit iron-ore mine near Kirkenes. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Anti-tank mine on the ground is made ready. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
All gear has to be double-checked. Safety is everything when dealing with explosives and weapons. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Chief of the Garrison of Sør-Varanger, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rozmara. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Walking to a safe distance before blowing up the anti-tank mine. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The blast as seen through the lens of Barents Observer's camera at a distance of a kilometer. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Military vehicle in the open-pit mine. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The blast took place in the open-pit mine of Sydvaranger iron-ore company at a distance of 2,5 kilometers from the border to Russia. Photo by Google maps