President Putin assembles his top military aides to discuss the development of the Navy and Northern Fleet.
Mining and metallurgy company Nornickel and oil producer Gazprom Neft strike deals with nuclear power company Rosatom over use of icebreakers.
Norwegian oilmen had great hopes for the new and pristine acreage in the Barents Sea, but failed to make discoveries. Russia’s national oil company Rosneft might now seek to take over some of Equinor’s role in the area.
Five individuals are arrested as U.S authorities crack down on the planned shipment of a new turbine to offshore Arctic platform Prirazlomnaya.
Last year’s detention of a Russian parliament employee overshadows cooperation between the two countries’ legislative assemblies, Foreign Relations Committee leader Konstantin Kosachev underlines.
Research - partner contents
Fram Centre
A new research report shows that the Arctic is under threat and may suffer negative impact if plastic enters the food chain.
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!
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The new special purpose vessel will serve the new icebreakers and the floating nuclear power plants and possible other reactor installations
The decision to build one more office complex for the security service comes only three years after the Stalin-styled new headquarters opened.
With weapons on the shoulders, infantry solders learn how to traverse Arctic borderlands with dogs.
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Travel
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 «Kapitan Dranitsyn» is bringing equipment, supplies and 95 researchers to the «Polarstern» as part of great international research expedition MOSAiC.
Protests from the indigenous Sami people, local fishermen and environmental groups were turned down by the government.
A total of 15 top ice-class carriers are now shuttling to the remote Arctic terminal in the Yamal Peninsula.
The Kinzhal missile was launched from a MiG-31K taking off from Olenegorsk airbase on the Kola Peninsula.
The Tor-M2DT has been officially handed over units in the Northern Fleet’s motorized infantry units in Pechenga.
The UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) has reportedly endorsed key parts of the country’s positions.
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
Moscow highlights the Arctic as territory of dialogue, but a recent court order might indicate that not everyone is welcomed to that dialogue.
New report
We are living in a time of growing pressure against free and independent media. It has come to the North, and regional journalists are increasingly feeling the chill, reads a new media monitoring report from the Barents Observer.
The Tsirkon scramjet-powered cruise missile is said to travel at a speed making it impossible to intercept by any known means.
Natural gas company Novatek might not get the state support it needs for new major infrastructure projects in the Arctic.
Plastic waste makes up a quarter of the diet for polar bears, says Ivan Mizin, research director of Russian Arctic national park.
Over the past year, a working group at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has been examining the future of commercial reindeer herding in Finland, including the issue of how many domesticated reindeer there should be in the whole of the country.
Greenhouse gases reached record highs in 2018 according a bulletin released on Monday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), continuing a trend that will have severe consequences for future generations the WMO said.
Species that previously were non-existent in Russia's remote and icy Arctic waters are now found in big numbers.
Researchers at the University of California’s Center for Climate Science say they have narrowed the projections of when the Arctic might be free of sea ice.
Without drastic action, our planet is headed toward warming of 3.2 C in less than 100 years, according to a new report.
A potentially critical situation might have erupted in the Baydarata Bay with two of the pipelines that bring natural gas from the Yamal Peninsula.
Not one single parliament member voted against when the State State Duma on Thursday adopted the third and final reading of the law giving authorities the right to designate any writer, photographer or video-blogger as ‘foreign agent’.
The «Admiral Kasatonov» is to be officially included in the Russian Navy in the course of 2019.
The president awards medals of bravery post mortem to the deceased nuclear experts and expresses condolences with their families.
Air temperatures will be above normal across the whole region and ice layers far below norms, an international group of meteorologists says.
Nornickel says modernization of the old factory is impossible.
«USS Minnesota» takes part in the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between NATO and Russian subs in the Norwegian Sea.
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.
