The Independent Barents Observer |

Tensions

Moscow aims to enhance presence in Svalbard as part of hybrid-strategy, expert warns

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

Arctic convoy

Ships complete 'historical passage' on Northern Sea Route

Komi

Police special forces detain a north Russian human rights activist

Norway deploys radiation drones along its coast amidst nuclear emergency concerns

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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Northern Sea Route

Rosatom hints it might build another two nuclear icebreakers

COVID-19

Russia’s excess death toll passes 810,000

A standoff between the governor and local legislators creates a stir in Murmansk politics

UN resolution to reduce black carbon hailed as ‘good first step’ for Arctic

Podcasts

Norwegian Army starts training with anti-tank mines near Russia border

The Barents Observer · Норвежские военные отрабатывают установку противотанковых мин недалеко от границы с Россией

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

Cooperation

Arctic Council wraps up two-day meeting in Salekhard, Russia

Temperatures headed toward -40°C in Finnish Lapland

climate crisis

Arctic could see more rain than snow in 30 years, study suggests

Baimskaya copper

A Kazakh mining chief tells Putin about his huge nuclear-powered copper project in Russian Arctic

Sapmi

Sámi leaders voice concern over projected wind farm

Caught in ice

More icebreakers coming to aid Russian Arctic ships in need

Moscow vs regions

New law will be "end of Russian federalism," says North Russian MP

truth & reconciliation

Skolt Sámi Heini Wesslin did not learn about her culture – now she hopes that truth and reconciliation process changes education

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