“We used to discuss cross-border issues with Russians at one table. Now it has stopped.” Reindeer herders in the north of Norway feel left out as cooperation with Russia shrinks.

Egil says that reindeer slip through the fence if a gate is open, or if an animal like a bear destroys it. Egil has got 2500 reindeer and produces up to 32 tonnes of reindeer meat per year to sell in the local shops. It’s hard to watch all of the reindeer and, he says, the animals will inevitably keep crossing the borders. But after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the cooperation that used to exist with Russia has shrunk to a minimum. Egil now finds it problematic that he can’t discuss such cross-border issues with Russians anymore. “Negotiations today are going on at a higher level between border authorities of Norway and Russia, Egil tells The Barents Observer, adding that before he was also used to participate in such meetings.