Thomas Nilsen

Iron-ore miner LKAB delivers strongest earnings ever

The Swedish state-owned iron-ore producer had an operating profit in 2021 of 26,9 billion Swedish kroner (€2,54 bn).
February 17, 2022

Russia issues largest ever warning zone in Norwegian part of the Barents Sea

"Impact Area for Russian missiles" reads the warning covering an area from the Varanger fjord in the east almost to the Bear Island in the northwest. Norwegian fishermen say it is "totally unacceptable."
February 15, 2022

Russia considers establishing space tracking station at Svalbard

The station will be part of Roscosmos’ warning system for monitoring near-earth space debris.
February 13, 2022

Russia activates aviation danger alert north of Norway in days of high tensions

More or less the entire southeastern Barents Sea is affected by military activity from February 16 to 19.
February 13, 2022

Russia showed “more caution and restraint” in Arctic over past 18 months, says Norwegian intelligence

A stable Arctic is in Russia’s own interest despite distrust and growing tensions. The powerful Northern Fleet has not acted confrontational in northern areas over the last one and a half year, the FOCUS 2022 threat assessment report by Norway’s intelligence service says.
February 11, 2022

Proposed hotel complex relocated from Liinakhamari to Titovka

FSB and the Defence Ministry did not agree with plans to develop tourism too close to Russia’s border with Norway.
February 10, 2022

NATO jets scrambled for second day in a row

Two Russian Tu-142 long-range submarine hunters on Thursday flew out from the Kola Peninsula, continued outside Norway on a southbound mission towards the airspace north of Scotland.
February 03, 2022

Norway scrambles jets as group of Russian aircraft flies from the north

Two Russian Tu-142 planes, two Tu-95 strategic bombers, an early warning and control aircraft, and several MiG-31 fighters were flying outside Norwegian air space on Wednesday. The anti-sub hunters and the bombers continued south to the North Sea area.
February 02, 2022

Electric vehicles account for 80% of sales in Norway’s northernmost region

Coldest winter in years doesn’t scare customers in Finnmark region on the top of Norway from buying battery-powered cars.
February 02, 2022

Lavrov demands 'clear answer' from Nordic neighbors on security guarantees

Norway, Sweden and Finland are among the countries that have received letters from Russia’s Foreign Minister asking for written answers whether they will comply with the OSCE commitments not to strengthen their security at the expense of the security of others.
February 01, 2022

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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