Thomas Nilsen
@thomasnilsen.bsky.social
Editor of the Barents Observer.
Freedom to write - Freedom to publish!
#Arctic #Environment #Security #Russia #Nuclear #FSB #OSINT #InfoOps
Freedom to write - Freedom to publish!
#Arctic #Environment #Security #Russia #Nuclear #FSB #OSINT #InfoOps
Record high: 385 people convicted of espionage and treason in 2025, according to Pervy Otdel (First Department). As said before, Putin is only afraid of one thing - his own people.
Russia sets record for espionage and treason convictions in 2025, rights groups say
Since the start of 2025, 468 people have been convicted in Russia on charges of espionage, treason, confidential cooperation with foreign organizations, or aiding the enemy, according to calculations ...
theins.ru
January 3, 2026 at 5:40 AM
Record high: 385 people convicted of espionage and treason in 2025, according to Pervy Otdel (First Department). As said before, Putin is only afraid of one thing - his own people.
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
🤥 Residents of Valdai in Russia's Novgorod Oblast say they neither saw nor heard any drone strikes or air defence activity on the night of 28-29 December, despite Russian authorities' claims of a drone attack on Russian leader Vladimir Putin's residence.
December 30, 2025 at 11:16 AM
🤥 Residents of Valdai in Russia's Novgorod Oblast say they neither saw nor heard any drone strikes or air defence activity on the night of 28-29 December, despite Russian authorities' claims of a drone attack on Russian leader Vladimir Putin's residence.
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
The Barents Observer in 2025: A year of censorship and repression. And victory against the Russian state
A year of censorship and repression. And victory against the Russian state
It was a year of massive Russian clampdown of free speech. But we would like to start with the good news — and there are plenty of reasons for that. The Barents Observer won against Putin's regime in ...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
December 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The Barents Observer in 2025: A year of censorship and repression. And victory against the Russian state
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
🐴🤡 Lavrov: "Washington believes elections must be held in Ukraine. The numerous Ukrainians living in Russia should also have the right to vote in the elections held in Ukraine."
December 29, 2025 at 9:09 PM
🐴🤡 Lavrov: "Washington believes elections must be held in Ukraine. The numerous Ukrainians living in Russia should also have the right to vote in the elections held in Ukraine."
Ingen tvil om at tidligere ambassadør Robert Kvile ble påvirket av den massive propagandaen i de årene han var i Moskva. Gjenspeiler dette hva som ble fortalt hjem til Oslo er det kanskje ikke så rart UD snakket om å bevare 🇳🇴🇷🇺 forhold, ‘det går over’ tanken?
www.forsvaretsforum.no/russland-ute...
www.forsvaretsforum.no/russland-ute...
December 28, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Ingen tvil om at tidligere ambassadør Robert Kvile ble påvirket av den massive propagandaen i de årene han var i Moskva. Gjenspeiler dette hva som ble fortalt hjem til Oslo er det kanskje ikke så rart UD snakket om å bevare 🇳🇴🇷🇺 forhold, ‘det går over’ tanken?
www.forsvaretsforum.no/russland-ute...
www.forsvaretsforum.no/russland-ute...
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
Russia just bombed the main highway leading into Kharkiv - heavy traffic with families returning home after Christmas - cars are burning with people in them.
And we discuss signing something with them?
And we discuss signing something with them?
December 26, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Russia just bombed the main highway leading into Kharkiv - heavy traffic with families returning home after Christmas - cars are burning with people in them.
And we discuss signing something with them?
And we discuss signing something with them?
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
Le Monde: The Barents Observer is a «target of intimidation from the Kremlin»
December 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Le Monde: The Barents Observer is a «target of intimidation from the Kremlin»
Happy Soviet Union Collapse Day!
December 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Happy Soviet Union Collapse Day!
Then it is official, the 🇺🇸 will bring back nukes to surface warships, ending a 35-year period without. The best Christmas present Putin could get as 🇷🇺 now can argue arming ‘Admiral Nakhimov’ with ☢️ SLCM-N is only responding to what the United States started.
Navy will build new force of nuclear-armed, Trump-class battleships, president says
Donald Trump said the Navy will begin building a new Trump-class battleship, to be outfitted with with an array of advanced weaponry still in development.
www.stripes.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Then it is official, the 🇺🇸 will bring back nukes to surface warships, ending a 35-year period without. The best Christmas present Putin could get as 🇷🇺 now can argue arming ‘Admiral Nakhimov’ with ☢️ SLCM-N is only responding to what the United States started.
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
Researchers Kari Aga Myklebost and Stian Bones, in collaboration with editor of The Barents Observer, Thomas Nilsen, have analyzed how Russia operates in relation to Svalbard. www.tv2.no/nyheter/adva... @thomasnilsen.bsky.social @stianbones.bsky.social @kariagam.bsky.social
– Tester Norge
Russland bruker Svalbard som arena for eskalerende hybride trusler. Målet er å teste handlingsrom og knekke Norges sanksjoner, ifølge ny rapport.
www.tv2.no
December 22, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Researchers Kari Aga Myklebost and Stian Bones, in collaboration with editor of The Barents Observer, Thomas Nilsen, have analyzed how Russia operates in relation to Svalbard. www.tv2.no/nyheter/adva... @thomasnilsen.bsky.social @stianbones.bsky.social @kariagam.bsky.social
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
The pronoun for a Russian general is "was/were".
December 22, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The pronoun for a Russian general is "was/were".
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
"Russland forsøker å få med seg Trump-administrasjonen i retning av å lette på sanksjonene og åpne opp for økonomisk samarbeid i Arktis. Vi må snakke og skrive om det Russland gjør. Det i seg selv er en måte å avkle de russiske handlingsmønstrene." @kariagam.bsky.social @thomasnilsen.bsky.social
December 22, 2025 at 10:15 AM
"Russland forsøker å få med seg Trump-administrasjonen i retning av å lette på sanksjonene og åpne opp for økonomisk samarbeid i Arktis. Vi må snakke og skrive om det Russland gjør. Det i seg selv er en måte å avkle de russiske handlingsmønstrene." @kariagam.bsky.social @thomasnilsen.bsky.social
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
#Breaking General Sarvarov, the head of the operational training department of the Russian Armed Forces, was killed in the explosion inside his car on Yasenevaya Street in Moscow, according to the Russian Investigative Committee.
tass.ru/proisshestvi...
tass.ru/proisshestvi...
December 22, 2025 at 7:01 AM
#Breaking General Sarvarov, the head of the operational training department of the Russian Armed Forces, was killed in the explosion inside his car on Yasenevaya Street in Moscow, according to the Russian Investigative Committee.
tass.ru/proisshestvi...
tass.ru/proisshestvi...
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
Over three decades, Norway invested heavily in bridge-building measures aimed at neighbouring Russian regions. It failed. The government in Oslo is now preparing a plan for blowing up bridges in case of a Russian attack
After three decades of bridge-building comes a plan for detonation
Norway bet on a democratic development in Russia and invested heavily in building bridges - both literally and in a political and human sense, with neighbouring Russian regions. It failed. The governm...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Over three decades, Norway invested heavily in bridge-building measures aimed at neighbouring Russian regions. It failed. The government in Oslo is now preparing a plan for blowing up bridges in case of a Russian attack
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
❗️ Russia has begun preparations of strategic bombers for combat mission against Ukraine.
During the day, two Tu‑95MS from Ukrainka Air Base arrived at Engels‑2 Air Base, completed arming procedures, and then headed to Olenya Air Base.
During the day, two Tu‑95MS from Ukrainka Air Base arrived at Engels‑2 Air Base, completed arming procedures, and then headed to Olenya Air Base.
December 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM
❗️ Russia has begun preparations of strategic bombers for combat mission against Ukraine.
During the day, two Tu‑95MS from Ukrainka Air Base arrived at Engels‑2 Air Base, completed arming procedures, and then headed to Olenya Air Base.
During the day, two Tu‑95MS from Ukrainka Air Base arrived at Engels‑2 Air Base, completed arming procedures, and then headed to Olenya Air Base.
Dette er tvilsom bruk av store penger. Send Tangen i Podcast-studio til et redaktørstyrt medie og la han bruke tilsvarende tid til å svare på gode spørsmål om oljefondets investeringer og prioriteringer.
www.nettavisen.no/okonomi/norg...
www.nettavisen.no/okonomi/norg...
Norges Bank vil bruke 10 millioner kroner på Tangens podkast
Sentralbanken planlegger å bruke inntil 10 millioner kroner på oljefondsjef Nicolai Tangens podkast de neste årene.
www.nettavisen.no
December 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Dette er tvilsom bruk av store penger. Send Tangen i Podcast-studio til et redaktørstyrt medie og la han bruke tilsvarende tid til å svare på gode spørsmål om oljefondets investeringer og prioriteringer.
www.nettavisen.no/okonomi/norg...
www.nettavisen.no/okonomi/norg...
Russia praises Norway for not taking part in guaranteeing a proposed loan against frozen 🇷🇺 assets. Money that would help 🇺🇦 stand strong against the invader. I'm sorry the majority in the 🇧🇻 parliament chose to stand on the wrong side in this important matter.
Посольство России одобрило отказ Осло обсуждать воровскую затею ЕС
Посольство России в Норвегии приветствует решение парламента не поручать правительству рассмотрение вопроса о присоединении Осло к обсуждаемому в ЕС кредиту... РИА Новости, 11.12.2025
ria.ru
December 13, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Russia praises Norway for not taking part in guaranteeing a proposed loan against frozen 🇷🇺 assets. Money that would help 🇺🇦 stand strong against the invader. I'm sorry the majority in the 🇧🇻 parliament chose to stand on the wrong side in this important matter.
Russia's repressive regime continues to file cases against the Barents Observer and our exile-journalists. We stay strong and continue to work. #JournalismIsNoCrime #MediaFreedom
Barents Observer journalist Olesia Krivtsova to be tried under 'foreign agent' article
Russian authorities have filed an administrative case against Olesia Krivtsova for her alleged 'violation of the foreign agent law.'
www.thebarentsobserver.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Russia's repressive regime continues to file cases against the Barents Observer and our exile-journalists. We stay strong and continue to work. #JournalismIsNoCrime #MediaFreedom
Russia celebrates constitution day on December 12, including here at the consulate in Kirkenes. A modest reminder about Article 29.5: "The freedom of mass communication shall be guaranteed. Censorship shall be banned."
www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-...
www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-...
December 12, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Russia celebrates constitution day on December 12, including here at the consulate in Kirkenes. A modest reminder about Article 29.5: "The freedom of mass communication shall be guaranteed. Censorship shall be banned."
www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-...
www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-...
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
Heilt utenkeleg å samarbeide med ei partileiing der to bur på Oslo aust og ein i Akershus (Høgre). Betre med ei partileiing der to bur på Oslo vest og ein i Akershus (Ap).
www.vg.no/nyheter/i/xr...
www.vg.no/nyheter/i/xr...
Vedum: Den nye Høyre-ledelsen gjør samarbeid enda mer utenkelig
Høyres nye ledelse består av tre personer fra Oslo-området.
www.vg.no
December 12, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Heilt utenkeleg å samarbeide med ei partileiing der to bur på Oslo aust og ein i Akershus (Høgre). Betre med ei partileiing der to bur på Oslo vest og ein i Akershus (Ap).
www.vg.no/nyheter/i/xr...
www.vg.no/nyheter/i/xr...
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
This new Hybrid CoE paper is a must-read for anyone interested in Svalbard and Russia’s hybrid activities on this strategically important Norwegian Arctic archipelago. 📝 @thomasnilsen.bsky.social @kariagam.bsky.social & @stianbones.bsky.social
Our paper about Russian subversive activities on Svalbard after 2014 is today published by the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE): Download, read and repost 🙌.
Hybrid threats in high latitudes: Facing Russia on Svalbard
This Hybrid CoE Paper outlines how Moscow blends information campaigns, coercive signalling at sea, symbolic gestures and surprise visits to challenge Norwegian authority while remaining below the thr...
www.hybridcoe.fi
December 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
This new Hybrid CoE paper is a must-read for anyone interested in Svalbard and Russia’s hybrid activities on this strategically important Norwegian Arctic archipelago. 📝 @thomasnilsen.bsky.social @kariagam.bsky.social & @stianbones.bsky.social
Our paper about Russian subversive activities on Svalbard after 2014 is today published by the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE): Download, read and repost 🙌.
Hybrid threats in high latitudes: Facing Russia on Svalbard
This Hybrid CoE Paper outlines how Moscow blends information campaigns, coercive signalling at sea, symbolic gestures and surprise visits to challenge Norwegian authority while remaining below the thr...
www.hybridcoe.fi
December 10, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Our paper about Russian subversive activities on Svalbard after 2014 is today published by the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE): Download, read and repost 🙌.
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
Russian soldiers returning from the war in Ukraine have killed or injured over 1,000 people, investigation finds
At least 551 people have been killed by returning veterans, more than half by former convicts, according to independent outlet Verstka.
At least 551 people have been killed by returning veterans, more than half by former convicts, according to independent outlet Verstka.
Russian soldiers returning from the war in Ukraine have killed or injured over 1,000 people, investigation finds
Over nearly four years of war in Ukraine, Russian veterans of the so-called “special military operation” returning from the front have killed or injured more than 1,000 people, according to a joint in...
theins.press
December 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Russian soldiers returning from the war in Ukraine have killed or injured over 1,000 people, investigation finds
At least 551 people have been killed by returning veterans, more than half by former convicts, according to independent outlet Verstka.
At least 551 people have been killed by returning veterans, more than half by former convicts, according to independent outlet Verstka.
Reposted by Thomas Nilsen
Honored to talk to WSJ about nuclear developments in Europe, including Russia’s nuclear-sharing arrangement in Belarus. www.wsj.com/video/series...
December 9, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Honored to talk to WSJ about nuclear developments in Europe, including Russia’s nuclear-sharing arrangement in Belarus. www.wsj.com/video/series...
The 🇷🇺 ⚛️ icebreaker 'Yakutiya' is today steaming outside the coast of 🇳🇴 Finnmark on her way back to the Russian Arctic after a docking in Kronstadt, St. Petersburg. For the simple reason that Russia does have a floating dock up north big enough for the new generation icebreakers.
December 9, 2025 at 12:29 PM
The 🇷🇺 ⚛️ icebreaker 'Yakutiya' is today steaming outside the coast of 🇳🇴 Finnmark on her way back to the Russian Arctic after a docking in Kronstadt, St. Petersburg. For the simple reason that Russia does have a floating dock up north big enough for the new generation icebreakers.