The Barents Observer
@thebarentsobserver.com
Europe's northernmost independent English-Russian online newspaper. Cross-border news from the Arctic, Russia, and Nordic. Fighting censorship, supporting democracy! Our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebarentsobserver
A 71-year-old pensioner from Alakurtti, Kola Peninsula, has been fined 30,000 rubles (€325) after he pressed ‘like’ on anti-war YouTube videos
Pressed ‘like’ on Youtube video, was fined for 'discreditation of army'
A 71-year-old pensioner from Alakurtti, Kola Peninsula, has been fined 30,000 rubles (€325) after he pressed ‘like’ on videos considered defamatory of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:11 PM
A 71-year-old pensioner from Alakurtti, Kola Peninsula, has been fined 30,000 rubles (€325) after he pressed ‘like’ on anti-war YouTube videos
Aleksei Dudarev, who has contributed to many international reports on Arctic health and environment, has been arrested and accused of 'state treason.' According to Russian security services, his research materials "can be used by Norwegian intelligence"
Russian researcher, who contributed to Arctic Council reports, is accused of state treason
According to Russian security services, Aleksei Dudarev’s scientific contributions to international publications on Arctic environment 'can be used by Norwegian intelligence.'
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Aleksei Dudarev, who has contributed to many international reports on Arctic health and environment, has been arrested and accused of 'state treason.' According to Russian security services, his research materials "can be used by Norwegian intelligence"
At the peak in December 2013, Storskog traffic 🇸🇯🇷🇺 reached 33,099 crossings. January 2026 saw 3,308 crossings, one-tenth the numbers from before Russia started its war against Ukraine 12 years ago.
February 7, 2026 at 1:30 PM
At the peak in December 2013, Storskog traffic 🇸🇯🇷🇺 reached 33,099 crossings. January 2026 saw 3,308 crossings, one-tenth the numbers from before Russia started its war against Ukraine 12 years ago.
Covert maritime intelligence from non-Russian flag ships gives Russia an overview of military capacities and infrastructure along the coast and on the seabed, Norway's Police Security Service warns.
Police: Russian crew members pose a significant espionage threat
Covert maritime intelligence from non-Russian flag ships gives Russia an overview of military capacities and infrastructure along the coast and on the seabed, Norway's Police Security Service warns.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Covert maritime intelligence from non-Russian flag ships gives Russia an overview of military capacities and infrastructure along the coast and on the seabed, Norway's Police Security Service warns.
Decades of data shows bears’ body conditions stable despite global warming affecting sea ice (via @eyeonthearctic.bsky.social)
No sea ice, no problem for Svalbard polar bears - for now
Decades of data shows bears’ body conditions stable despite global warming affecting sea ice.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Decades of data shows bears’ body conditions stable despite global warming affecting sea ice (via @eyeonthearctic.bsky.social)
After serious injury on occupied land, fighting war priest returns to his naval infantry base on Kola Peninsula
After serious injury on battlefield, fighting war priest returns to Kola Peninsula
Ultra-conservative and militant clergyman Sergei Cherichenko, who normally serves in a naval infantry base on the Kola Peninsula, is back from occupied land where he was seriously wounded in battle.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:18 PM
After serious injury on occupied land, fighting war priest returns to his naval infantry base on Kola Peninsula
The world's last nuclear control agreement expires today, February 5th. The end of the pact comes at worst possible time, UN chief warns.
Fears grow that Russia will deploy more nukes in the Arctic, as New START Treaty expires on February 5th
More uncertainty can push Russia to a higher alert, deploying more tactical and strategic nuclear warheads on board submarines sailing out from the Kola Peninsula.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:10 AM
The world's last nuclear control agreement expires today, February 5th. The end of the pact comes at worst possible time, UN chief warns.
One of Russia's most renowned Arctic geological exploration companies is closing the doors
Russia's renowned polar geological company is closing the doors
The closure of a company that has made a series of major mineral resource discoveries across the Arctic might mean a looming crisis for the Russian geological exploration industry.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:38 PM
One of Russia's most renowned Arctic geological exploration companies is closing the doors
Last 🇷🇺🇺🇸 nuclear treaty is expiring tomorrow, ending half-century of arms control. The Barents Observer looks into what that could mean for the Kola Peninsula and the Arctic.
PM Støre fears Russia will deploy more nukes in the Arctic, as New START Treaty expires on February 5th
More uncertainty can push Russia to a higher alert, deploying more tactical and strategic nuclear warheads onboard submarines sailing out from the Kola Peninsula.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Last 🇷🇺🇺🇸 nuclear treaty is expiring tomorrow, ending half-century of arms control. The Barents Observer looks into what that could mean for the Kola Peninsula and the Arctic.
Desperate for more men, Russian military recruiters might launch an offensive against citizens with debts problems
War Ministry requests access to Russians' financial data
Desperate for more men, Russian military recruiters might launch an offensive against citizens with debts problems.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Desperate for more men, Russian military recruiters might launch an offensive against citizens with debts problems
Russian fishing tycoon Vitaly Orlov and his company Norebo sued Norway, but lost in temporary court
Russian fishing company lost in temporary court
'It is an obvious mismatch between the sanctioned's wish to conduct business in Norwegian economic zone and Norway's security policy interest,' the Norwegian state argues in the court order.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Russian fishing tycoon Vitaly Orlov and his company Norebo sued Norway, but lost in temporary court
Leonid Mikhelson's brand new shadow tanker makes maiden voyage to banned Saam FSU on Kola coast
Here comes Leonid Mikhelson's new 'shadow tanker' to the banned Saam FSU
The Aleksey Kosygin is Russia's first domestically-built gas carrier with ice classification Arc7. On February 2, it sailed into the Ura Bay for a transshipment operation at a 400-metre-long sanctione...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Leonid Mikhelson's brand new shadow tanker makes maiden voyage to banned Saam FSU on Kola coast
From bases in Northern Norway, the Chunmoo missile system will have capacity to wipe out capacities in Russia's Kola Peninsula
Norway's new missile battalion will be based in Bardufoss
The Nordic country is investing 19 billion kroner (€1,65 billion) in the acquisition of the South Korean Chunmoo missile system. From the base in Bardufoss, the missiles will have the capacity to wipe...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:12 PM
From bases in Northern Norway, the Chunmoo missile system will have capacity to wipe out capacities in Russia's Kola Peninsula
A governor's visit to the remote settlement of Indiga gives a rare glimpse of the new military radar systems deployed by Russia in the Arctic
Governor's touchdown on Arctic coast gives a rare glimpse of Russian military radars
'Today I will work in Indiga,' governor of the Nenets Autonomous District Irina Gekht reported in a social media video post that showed her helicopter landing in the remote settlement.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 31, 2026 at 12:53 PM
A governor's visit to the remote settlement of Indiga gives a rare glimpse of the new military radar systems deployed by Russia in the Arctic
Workers hectically brought additional wheelbarrows of coal to the local boiler house as Murmansk Governor Chibis came on an unannounced visit to the district that is haunted by failed heating
Boiler house workers bring more wheelbarrows of coal, but heating in Pechenga still fails
The governor of Murmansk came on an unannounced inspection to the Pechenga district where local boiler houses fail to provide heating to military families.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Workers hectically brought additional wheelbarrows of coal to the local boiler house as Murmansk Governor Chibis came on an unannounced visit to the district that is haunted by failed heating
The court case against the Russian drivers that unknowingly carried the hidden drones attacking several military airfields last spring has started in Moscow.
Truck driver who unintentionally transported Ukrainian drones to Olenya Air Base face life sentence
The spectacular Operation Spiderweb damaged 41 aircraft at air bases across Russia, including several strategic bombers parked at the far north airfield on the Kola Peninsula.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:23 AM
The court case against the Russian drivers that unknowingly carried the hidden drones attacking several military airfields last spring has started in Moscow.
Here comes the sun: After two months of polar night, the orangish-glowing 🌞 returns over the horizon seen from the windows of the Barents Observer newsroom in #Kirkenes 🇳🇴. Temperature this morning is -24°C.
January 29, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Here comes the sun: After two months of polar night, the orangish-glowing 🌞 returns over the horizon seen from the windows of the Barents Observer newsroom in #Kirkenes 🇳🇴. Temperature this morning is -24°C.
Putin's Maritime Board warns 'unfriendly states' that measures will be taken to protect Russian shipping interests
Russia hints it will deploy Navy to protect 'shadow fleet'
Putin's Maritime Board warns 'unfriendly states' that measures will be taken to protect Russian shipping interests.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Putin's Maritime Board warns 'unfriendly states' that measures will be taken to protect Russian shipping interests
"My thoughts go to all the people in Ukraine, who are in such a terrible situation," Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandra said as she traveled to Kirkenes, the Norwegian town located near the border with Russia
Princess on the border
'My thoughts go to all the people in Ukraine, who are in such a terrible situation,' Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandra said as she traveled to Kirkenes, the Norwegian town located near the border wit...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:36 PM
"My thoughts go to all the people in Ukraine, who are in such a terrible situation," Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandra said as she traveled to Kirkenes, the Norwegian town located near the border with Russia
Public outrage is on the rise in the cities of Murmansk and Severomorsk as thousands of people are without electric power following a several-day-long major blackout
Darkness descended on Murmansk
Public outrage is on the rise in the cities of Murmansk and Severomorsk as thousands of people are without electric power three days after several power masts collapsed in bad weather. A full restorat...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Public outrage is on the rise in the cities of Murmansk and Severomorsk as thousands of people are without electric power following a several-day-long major blackout
Russian diplomates in Kirkenes are dissatisfied with the protesters that from time to time show up with Ukrainian flags across the street.
Moscow's diplomats ask Oslo to stop anti-war protesters
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry answers that such protests are something the Russian diplomats will have to live with.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 26, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Russian diplomates in Kirkenes are dissatisfied with the protesters that from time to time show up with Ukrainian flags across the street.
A video released by the Defence Ministry shows that one of the two bombers was armed with a cruise missile under the wing when taking off from the Olenya Air Base.
Armed Tu-22M3 bombers from Kola flew new Baltic mission
The Russian bombers flew in close vicinity to the airspace of the six NATO member states Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 24, 2026 at 10:38 AM
A video released by the Defence Ministry shows that one of the two bombers was armed with a cruise missile under the wing when taking off from the Olenya Air Base.
A project to extract copper for renewable technologies triggers controversies with environmentalists and indigenous Sámi people in northernmost Norway. #Repparfjord #Mining #IndigenousRights #Renewables #NatureAndYouth
Eco-activists block entrance to Europe’s northernmost copper mine project
The activists demand that the permission to dump tailings into the Repparfjord should be withdrawn because of its negative impact on the marine life and coastal indigenous Sami culture.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 24, 2026 at 7:24 AM
A project to extract copper for renewable technologies triggers controversies with environmentalists and indigenous Sámi people in northernmost Norway. #Repparfjord #Mining #IndigenousRights #Renewables #NatureAndYouth
French special forces took control of 'shadow tanker' carrying Arctic oil from Murmansk
French Navy boards shadow tanker carrying Arctic oil
'We will not tolerate any violation,' said President Emanuell Macron as special forces from the French Navy took control of a 250 metre-long tanker carrying Arctic oil from Murmansk.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:37 PM
French special forces took control of 'shadow tanker' carrying Arctic oil from Murmansk
Battle experience is required, says military youth centre VOIN in Murmansk as it sends all its instructors and teachers to war
Military youth centre in Murmansk sends its instructors to war
An organisation that provides 'patriotic education' and military training to children and youth in the Kola Peninsula is sending its instructors to the front line in Ukraine. Battlefield experiences a...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Battle experience is required, says military youth centre VOIN in Murmansk as it sends all its instructors and teachers to war