Atle Staalesen

New production platform arrives in Utrenneye. It is part of Russia's big push into Arctic LNG

Accompanied by 12 tugs and support ships, the 640,000 ton heavy production unit this week docked in the Utrenneye port in far northern Gydan peninsula.
August 15, 2023

A month after they set out on Arctic voyage, two Russian oil tankers still battle with sea-ice

The ships that are loaded with more than 200,000 tons of oil might have been surprised by ice pack in the East Siberian Sea.
August 11, 2023

Norway outlines powerful electrification of its North

Major investments in renewables, new power lines and emission cuts are to set stage for an industrial revival of the country's northernmost Finnmark region.
August 08, 2023

After ten days aground in Franz Josef Land, researchers are evacuated from wrecked ship

Divers found damages to the hull of the research ship, and Arctic expedition was aborted.
August 07, 2023

"Here starts a hostile and unfriendly world." Top Murmansk clergyman Mitrofan visits Boris and Gleb Church on border to Norway

The Russian Orthodox metropolitan that has called Russia's war against Ukraine a 'battle with Anti-Christ' pays a visit to the church located only few meters from Norway.
August 07, 2023

Northern Fleet ship seriously damaged in drone attack

The 112 meter long landing vessel Olenegorsky Gornyak is in danger of sinking after Ukrainian drones struck the Russian naval base in Novorossiisk.
August 04, 2023

Moscow first called Oslo "unfriendly." Now, it has become "very unfriendly"

Norway is the only of Russia's neighboring countries that is included in a list of states with a so-called unfriendly line against Russian diplomatic offices.
August 03, 2023

Ship sails 6,000 km to deliver goods and new crew to Russia's North Pole platform

Research vessel Akademik Tryoshnikov is on its way from St.Petersburg to waters near the North Pole where it will re-equip the "Severny Polyus-41."
August 02, 2023

Russian investigators summon girl (9) and boy (10) for questioning following mother's suspected "discreditation of army"

A criminal case was opened against Lidia Prudovskaya from the town of Mirny in Arkhangelsk region following her anti-war social media posts. Both her two children were summoned to testify against her.
August 01, 2023

"Ten Western terrorist plots against Karelia over last half year," says Russian security chief Patrushev

In an apparent attempt to stir fear and hostility, the powerful FSB hawk claims that the Northwest Russian border region is under attack from Western and Ukrainian security services.
August 01, 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