The annual speech of President Putin’s to the Federal Security Service for the first time did not reveal the number of Russians and foreigners nabbed for espionage.
The port of Liinakhamari is the best suited site for a big container terminal on Russia’s Arctic coast, they argue.
Eye on the Arctic
For the first time, comparable data ranks greenhouse gas emissions for all Finnish municipalities.
Far northern territories, border areas and closed military towns should be directly subjected to the federal government in Moscow, says a leading member of the group now authoring Russia’s new Constitution.
Research - partner contents
Fram Centre
The very same carbon emissions responsible for harmful changes to climate are also fertilizing plant growth, which in turn is somewhat moderating global warming. This affect also remote places, like the High Arctic.
Fram Centre
Svalbard reindeer live in the most rapidly changing Arctic environment. The 40-year monitoring shows population growth and increased carrying capacity of the tundra, but also harsher winters, greater isolation, and population reductions. Population developments thus diverge in the two core monitoring regions.
Fram Centre
Ursus maritimus – the polar bear’s Latin name clearly identifies it as a marine animal, not a terrestrial one. Recent studies show they deserve this name: not only do they live much of their lives near sea ice; they also spend more time in the water, swim farther and dive deeper than was thought previously.
The Barents Observer Newsletter
Your e-mail will never be shared with others.
ADVERTISEMENT
But in 2020 the number is again expected to rise as Norway now allows for dual citizenship.
Surveillance of maritime traffic is key priority for the Northern Fleet’s UAV unit.
The Norwegian Intelligence Service fears a stronger Chinese presence in the North, but the country’s ambassador assures that Beijing wants nothing but regional peace and development.
An electric motor on the super-powerful ship broke down during sea trails.
Partners
Siste/ mest lest
Security
A third ship for northern waters might be built by the Vyborg Yard outside St.Petersburg.
Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) sees the announced missile shootings as a response to next month’s exercise Cold Response which takes place north of the Arctic Circle.
Two big naval vessels from the Northern Fleet trained combat against enemy aircrafts off the Norwegian coast.
ADVERTISEMENT
Key law enforcement authorities of the Russian Arctic region joined forces in exercise onboard two retired nuclear-powered icebreakers docked in Kola Bay.
The world’s only civilian nuclear-powered cargo ship will later this year bring construction material to the coast of Antarctic aimed for Russia’s research station Vostok in inland Princess Elizabeth Land.
Member of the European Parliament comes to Barents coast, calls for stronger EU engagement in Arctic
All key government structures of the Union must assign a far higher level of attention to Arctic affairs, says Urmas Paet.
“As normal there are no evidence, just general speculations,” the Embassy writes in a statement to the Barents Observer.
“We should expect development and testing of new, advanced weapons systems in the areas east of Norway. Several of these will have nuclear propulsion systems,” said Director of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, Lt. Gen. Morten Haga Lunde.
The development of Vostok Oil is to include 100,000 new jobs, 15 new industry towns, 800 km of pipeline and total investments of more than €144 billion.
Airline company Widerøe has in its almost 90 year history never experienced this kind of weather.
Two of Russia’w most advance radar systems are under building in the Kola Peninsula. They will complement similar systems in Novaya Zemlya and Arkhangelsk.
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
Kremlin seeks to exploit any issue that can create split, said Lt. Gen. Morten Haga Lunde when presenting the Intelligence Service’s 2020 review of security threats to Norway.
A controversial message from the Russian foreign ministry gets a clear response from Oslo.
Average temperatures in January were up to 12 degrees Celsius above normal in parts of the country.
Two big naval vessels from the Northern Fleet trained combat against enemy aircrafts off the Norwegian coast.
The Human Rights Court in Strasbourg concludes that the Russian Military failed to investigate properly the death of Konstantin Luzyanin and grants mother Valentina €26.000 compensation.
“The tourists care about their green impact, so the business is obvious,” says Agnes Árnadóttir, co-founder of the Polar tour operator that sails towards an emission-free future.
Vostok Coal is giving up its great Arctic project. The buyer of the vast coal reserves of the Taymyr Peninsula might be state nuclear power company Rosatom.
A new tax regime for the Russian Arctic is to provide for an unprecedented wave of investments in icy drilling.
Oslo does not want the Russian Navy’s song and dance ensemble to participate in a Norwegian cultural festival.
Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) sees the announced missile shootings as a response to next month’s exercise Cold Response which takes place north of the Arctic Circle.
The travel industry goes green and the north is no exception when tour-busses aims for zero emission.
2019 became the year when hotels in Tromsø in average earned more per room than hotels Oslo. Winter tourism is a major reason.
21,880 border crossings were counted in January.
A 56 km long new power line has been built to Novatek’s major plant on the coast of the Kola Bay.
A third ship for northern waters might be built by the Vyborg Yard outside St.Petersburg.
First coronavirus case in northern Finland triggers big headlines. In Murmansk, incoming tourists are expected to be down 80 percent in February.
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.
