Atle Staalesen

Migrant flow from Russia moves north

Following the announced closure of four border-crossing points in southern Finland, migrants are moving north to crossing points that remain open. Border police in northern Finland and neighbouring Norway is on high alert.
November 17, 2023

Soon compulsory in Russian schools: military theory and drone flying

"The school program always has to meet the challenges of our time," Russian Minister of Enlightenment Sergei Kravtsov says.
November 16, 2023

Finland closes several border-crossing points to Russia

Following a rapid growth in illegal border traffic, the Nordic country closes four of its border-crossing points to Russia. The border-crossing points in the north of the country will remain open for now.
November 16, 2023

Marines from Russia's 'Kirkenes Brigade' praise pensioner who donated 500,000 rubles to new combat gear

In a propaganda video, the retired woman from Murmansk, who allegedly spent all her savings on support to Russian warriors, is presented as role model.
November 15, 2023

Finland suspects Moscow uses migrants to stir trouble on eastern border

Following a sharp increase in illegal border traffic, the Finnish Border Guard Service now prohibits border-crossing with bicycles. Additional measures will be taken if needed, the Finnish Minister of Interior underlines.
November 14, 2023

Russian nickel miner wants nuclear power for Arctic plant

Nornickel starts talks with Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom on the building of a small-scale nuclear power station in Norilsk.
November 14, 2023

The last convoy before the big freeze

Research ship Grigory Mikheev has spent weeks in remote Arctic waters to prepare the ground for year-round shipping on the Northern Sea Route. Now it is escorted out of the quickly expanding sea-ice as part of this year's last ship convoy
November 14, 2023

Three months after Moscow adopted law on goods deliveries to northern territories, a crisis looms in isolated Arctic settlements

"Our region is on the verge of an emergency situation," a woman from the far northern Nenets Autonomous Okrug warns as winter supplies have failed to reach local villages.
November 09, 2023

Taken by storm, the "Aleksandr Gusev" becomes landmark wreckage on Barents Sea coast

The 30 year old ship that used to shuttle along the coast of the Kola Peninsula with fish food for local sea farmers ended its life on a cliff near a Russian naval base.
November 07, 2023

Newnew Polar Bear sails towards Bering Strait

The ship suspected of sabotage against underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea is sailing towards the Pacific Ocean following its voyage through Russian Arctic waters.
November 06, 2023

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Atle is journalist and Publisher of the Independent Barents Observer.

In 2002, he founded the Barents Observer. He was editor until 2009 and later worked as journalist and project coordinator for several European cross-border cooperation projects. In late 2015, following a conflict over editorial rights, he re-established the Barents Observer as an independent and non-profit stock company along with the rest of the newspaper crew.  

Atle has a degree in Russian studies from the University of Oslo and studied journalism at the Moscow State University.

atle@thebarentsobserver.com
@atlestaalesen