Thomas Nilsen

Russia launches new Borei-A class ballistic missile sub

The country has not commissioned this many ballistic missile submarines since 1991, said Navy Commander Nikolai Evmenov at the ceremony at the Sevmash yard on December 25.
December 25, 2021

Second giant nuclear icebreaker handed over to Rosatomflot

The "Sibir" will add to the rapidly growing fleet of powerful icebreakers tasked to keep the Northern Sea Route open for year-round shipping.
December 25, 2021

New trans-Arctic pathway for Asia-bound subsea cable

After Finnish state-owned operator Cinia and Russian MegaFon earlier this year put on hold plans to lay telecom cable from Europe to Asia north of Siberia, new partners have teamed up looking for an option via Iceland, Greenland, Canada and Alaska to Japan.
December 21, 2021

Sevmash hands over two nuclear subs to the navy

The hand-over ceremony at the yard in northern Russia took place shortly after President Vladimir Putin said Russia is prepared to take military measures to counter NATO’s "unfriendly steps."
December 21, 2021

Arctic Frontiers 2022 postponed amid COVID-19 surge

Better to postpone than to cancel, say organizers of the pan-Arctic gathering in Tromsø, northern Norway.
December 21, 2021

Russia leaves Open Skies Treaty, but on-ground arms inspections continue

"The prevailing policy of Washington is to destroy the previously reached agreements in the field of arms control," the Russian Foreign Ministry says in a statement on December 18 as the country is now formally out of the Open Skies Treaty.
December 18, 2021

Migrants from Belarus border crisis arrested while heading towards Arctic route to Europe

Three citizens from Iran entered Russia illegally to Smolensk region and were later arrested in Kandalaksha on the Kola Peninsula.
December 18, 2021

Northern Fleet first to get storage and maintenance facility for Tsirkon missile

Serial production of Russia’s hypersonic navy missile has started and construction of the first storage site is underway near Severomorsk.
December 14, 2021

After ten years at yard, nuclear sub "Leopard" is soon to sail

The 30-years old Akula-class submarine is likely to carry the Kalibr cruise missile when reentering the Northern Fleet.
December 14, 2021

Norway imposes partial pre-Christmas COVID lockdown

The government on Monday announced strict measures in fear of the Omicron variant of the virus.
December 14, 2021

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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