Thomas Nilsen

Norwegian citizen remains detained two weeks after unauthorised border crossing into Russia

The person faces trial according to FSB’s border directorate. Meanwhile, a court in Pechenga has ruled to keep the Norwegian in custody.
May 10, 2023

Russian diplomats stir up emotions in Norwegian border town Kirkenes

On Moscow's 'victory day,' visiting Russians from the nearby Murmansk region tore down a Ukrainian anti-war poster and participated in a patriotic gathering organised by the local Russian General Consulate.
May 09, 2023

With 150 fighter jets and support planes, 14 nations ready for massive Nordic air force drills

Finland, Sweden and Norway are once again gearing up for the bi-annual cross-border Arctic Challenge Exercise, this year with a more powerful deterrence role than ever.
May 09, 2023

Russian navy approaches NATO air- and missile defence exercise outside Northern Norway

The current Russian navy activities outside Norway are the highest since before the pandemic.
May 05, 2023

Russia’s Coast Guard cooperation with China is a big step, Arctic security expert says

“Letting China in would be a big step in practical cooperation. It has a security element to it,” says Senior Researcher Andreas Østhagen with the Fridtjof Nansen Institute.
April 28, 2023

Fighter jet catches fire and crashes near Monchegorsk

Two pilots parachuted to survive when a MiG-31 crashed Wednesday afternoon. See our Russian video story above.
April 26, 2023

Expelled Russian seaman caught smuggling large quantity cigarettes

The man was expelled from Norway last year. Coming back to Kirkenes onboard a Russian fishing vessel, the police seized over 18,000 illegal cigarettes.
April 26, 2023

Russia expels 10 Norwegian diplomats in mirror move

Retaliation, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow argues as they today handed over the list of ten names of Norwegian diplomats unwanted in Russia.
April 26, 2023

Seven Russian military planes in formation north of Finnmark

A pair of Tu-160 strategic bombers flew together with two Il-78 tankers and three MiG-31 combat jets. NATO scrambled two F-35 that met the Russian planes north of Finnmark.
April 26, 2023

Stockholm expels five Russian diplomats

“Their activities on our territory have been incompatible with their diplomatic status,” Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said to SVT.
April 25, 2023

Pages

Thomas Nilsen is editor of the Independent Barents Observer with its news desk located in Kirkenes, northern Norway. He has a long experience in media cooperation across the borders in the high north of Europe, both as radio- and newspaper reporter all the way back to the days before the breakup of the Soviet Union. 

Nilsen has been editor of Barents Observer since 2009.

He was Deputy Head of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat from 2004-2009. Until 2003, he worked 12 years for the Bellona Foundation’s Russian study group, focusing on nuclear safety issues and general environmental challenges in northern areas and the Arctic. 

Thomas has been traveling extensively across northern Scandinavia and Arctic Russia since the late 80’s working for different media and organizations. He is also a guide at sea and in remote locations in the Russian north for various groups and regularly lectures on security issues, environmental and socio-economic development.

Thomas Nilsen studied at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Mobile: +47-90573143

thomas@thebarentsobserver.com
@nilsen.thomas