Photo and Video
Photos
Aslak (19) and Iver (21) are packing up warm clothes in the room before leaving for patrol out in the freezing cold wilderness along the Norwegian-Russian border. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Norwegian soldiers are armed when on patrol along the border to Russia. There are two border stations where the soldiers live when on duty. Here, the Pasvik border station, responsible for the southern sector of the 200 km long border. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Packing up the gear for the patrol along the Norwegian-Russian border. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Head of the unit of border guards in Pasvik, Lars Erik Gausen, keeps an eye on possible movements close to the border line on both sides of the frozen river. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The border soldiers use snowmobiles in winter and patrol boats on the river during summer. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
There are no fences or other physical barriers on the Norwegian side of the border. Russian border guards, however, have built a several meters high barbed wired fence all long its border with Norway and Finland. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"The border runs in the River," the signs says. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The temperature in Pasvik dropped to minus 25 degrees Celsius as Army conscripts Aslak and Iver made patrol along the border. Norway's side of the border is marked with yellow and black border poles. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Watching Russia: On a normal day there is little but taiga forest to see on the other side of the border along the Pasvik River. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
While no civilians are allowed to enter anywhere near the border on the Russian side, Norwegians can freely move along the riverbanks and even fish in the river. Private houses and cabins are all along the Pasvik River. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
On the Russian side, civilians are not allowed to move anywhere in the border area without special permission. A barbed-wire fence stretches all way from the coast to the Barents Sea in the north and 1,540 km all way to the Bay of Finland in the south. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Russian checkpoint at Borisoglebsk is the only legal way to exit Russia along its border with Norway. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Norwegian-Russian border is 198 km from Finland in the south to the Barents Sea in the north. In the Pasvik valley, the borderline follows the river. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
A last hug. Man from the Pechenga rayon going to war. Photo: Andrei Kuznetsov on Telegram
Mobilisation along border to Finland and Norway. Drafted men from the Pechenga rayon. Photo: town Mayor Andrei Kuznetsov on Telegram
Drafted men from Murmansk. Photo: Governor Chibis on Telegram
Young indigenous Nenets men from the Yamal-Nenets region going to war. Photo: Governor Artyukhov on Telegram
Mobilisation in Murmansk. Photo: Governor Chibis on Telegram
Governor Dmitry Artyukhov speaks to young men from the Yamal-Nenets region head of their departure to the battlefield. Photo: Artyukhov on Telegram
Smiles ahead of the battle. Men from Yamal-Nenets region going to War. Photo: Governor Artyukhov on Telegram
From the Yamal tundra til war. Photo: Governor Dmitry Artyukhov on Telegram
Komi men on their way to war. Photo: Governor Vladimir Uiba on Telegram
Last good-bye in Pechenga. Photo: town Mayor Kuznetsov
Last good-bye in Pechenga. Photo: Andrei Kuznetsov on Telegram
Murmansk Governor Andrei Chibis speaks to local drafted men. Photo: Chibis on Telegram
Local man from Pechenga rayon says farewell to relatives ahead of departure for the battlefields. Photo: Andrei Kuznetsov on Telegram
Drafted men from Aleksandrovsk, Kola Peninsula. Photo: vk.com/zatogadjievo
Drafted men from Gadzhievo, Murmansk region. Photo: vk.com/zatogadjievo
Last good-bye in Snezhnegorsk, Kola Peninsula. Photo: vk.com/zatogadjievo
Drafted men from Aleksandrovsk, Kola Peninsula. Photo: vk.com/zatogadjievo
Mobilization in Kandalaksha, Murmansk region. Photo: vk.com/iprosolenko
Last good-bye in Kandalaksha. Photo: vk.com/iprosolenko
Young people from Kandalaksha going to war. Photo: vk.com/iprosolenko
Friends and relatives say farewell to drafted men from Kandalaksha, Murmansk region. Photo: vk.com/iprosolenko
Mobilization in Chukotka. Photo: Governor Roman Kopin on Telegram
Mobilization in Chukotka. Photo: Governor Roman Kopin on Telegram
Blessing by the archbishop. Photo: church of Severomorsk
Marching band plays for departing reservists in Arkhangelsk. Photo: Governor Tsybulsky on VK
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Photo: Northern Fleet press service
U.S. Soldiers assigned to “Viper Company”, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) brought military terrain vehicles to the exercise Ryske 2022. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Finnish soldiers from the Jaeger Brigade in Sodankylä. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Conscript Adrian Isaksen and Lt. Anders Smith with the Porsanger battalion were in charge of radio communication during the exercise. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Some 150 soldiers from the Porsanger battalion participated in exercise Ryske 22. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Three countries, three commanders, discussing the progress of exercise Ryske at the Rovajärvi artillery training ground in northern Finland. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Finland's SISU armoured vehicles are used for transporting troops in the terrain. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Rovajärvi military training ground between Kemijärvi, Sodankylä and Rovaniemi in northern Finland is the largest for artillery exercises in Western Europe. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Commander Szorady led the U.S. Army airborne troopers participating in exercise Ryske 22. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Company commander, Capt. Petter Nybøle Lie, with the Porsanger battalion. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian soldiers smiling after beating the U.S. troopers in one of the battles of exercise Ryske. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
SISU XA (Patria Pasi) armoured personnel vehicle made in Finland. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Two U.S. Army soldiers studying the map of the exercise area west of Kemijärvi. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"Stop Putin, Don't Bomb Ukraine," reads the sign as some 150 people marched towards the border river Pasvik. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Norwegian- Russian border follows the deepest part of the Pasvik river. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Russia is on the other side of the frozen river. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Some 150 people participated in the protest march. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Protest against Putin's war on Ukraine outside Russia's Consulate General in Kirkenes. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Videos
The Norwegian Head of State pays visit to Sør-Varanger Garrison, the military base located only few kilometres from the warring country.
