The Barents Observer

01/07/2025

The 18-year-old girl from Arkhangelsk was prosecuted for expressing her opinion on the war in Ukraine.

Девушку преследуют за выражение мнения о войне в Украине: девушка написала несколько комментариев.

30/06/2025

Equinor makes additional oil discovery near the far northern Johan Castberg field. The company believes it will be able to almost double reserves in the area

The Norwegian company makes an additional discovery near the far northern Johan Castberg field.

30/06/2025

One month after "Spiderweb" drone raid took out four Tu-95MS bombers, the air base in the Murmansk region again takes active part in war crimes by launching cruise missiles on civilians in Ukraine.

One month after 'Spiderweb' drone raid took out four Tu-95MS bombers, the air base in the Murmansk region again takes active part in war crimes by launching cruise missiles on civilians in Ukraine.

28/06/2025

Monday, June 30, will be an historic milestone at Svalbard. The last Norwegian coal mine, No. 7, shuts down, marking an end to more than 100 years of digging the black fossil mineral out of the permafrost. Longyearbyen is now in transition to renewables. The Barents Observer has visited Isfjord Radio and its pilot project with the world's northernmost ground-mounted solar park 🌞. When solar panels prove successful at 78°North, it can work anywhere in the circumpolar Arctic.

Read more about how this could pave the way for more zero-emission off-grid energy systems for the Arctic.

Rifle and flare gun are mandatory when Inge Jørstad walks over the permafrost to the large solar park powering Basecamp Isfjord Radio. Here, polar bears are a bigger challenge than technical breakdown. The facility is pioneering a renewable energy future for Svalbard as Norway's last coal mine shut...

28/06/2025

Bishop Iyakov, who backs Russia's war on Ukraine, returned to the controversial cross he erected at the Norwegian archipelago two years ago.

27/06/2025

"I think Russia has always been seen as a big threat in Finland. Norway, on the other hand, has historically had a more friendly and cooperative relationship with Russia.... In Finland, I think the consensus is that we shouldn't do anything with Russia now. Here, I think it's hard to completely close the border or stop all cooperation. It's interesting."

Visual journalist Miro Johansson travelled all the way from Helsinki to Kirkenes in his minivan to report for the Barents Observer this summer.

Miro Johansson travelled all the way from Helsinki to Kirkenes in his minivan to report for the Barents Observer. He is determined to share the stories of local communities.

25/06/2025

Many of the Russian warriors that spread terror in Kherson, southern Ukraine, might have been trained at the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade in Kola Peninsula

A new UN report accuses them of grave war crimes against civilians along the banks of the Dnipro River. Warriors from the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade return from occupied land to the Kola Peninsula to train new war criminals.

22/06/2025

Opinion by Kari Aga Myklebost and Stian Bones, Professors of History, UiT The Arctic University of Norway.

There are long-term patterns in how Russia approaches Norway on Svalbard. Over the years, Moscow’s proposals for bilateral arrangements with Norway and arguments emphasizing a special position for Russia on the archipelago have become a familiar modus operandi for Norwegian authorities.

There are long-term patterns in how Russia approaches Norway on Svalbard. Over the years, Moscow’s proposals for bilateral arrangements with Norway and arguments emphasizing a special position for Russia on the archipelago have become a familiar modus operandi for Norwegian authorities.

20/06/2025

Two nuclear icebreakers are making way for a tanker and two cargo ships in this year's first transit shipment on the Russian Arctic route.

20/06/2025

Norway confirms it will spent 5% of GDP on defence. The announcement comes only about a year after the Nordic country said it was about to reach the 2 percent limit

'We must do more to secure our country and contribute to joint security with our NATO allies,' says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

20/06/2025

Nordic, Baltic, Poland in joint statement call for all Russian citizens helping the war against Ukraine to be banned from entering Schengen-Europa.

Norway among with seven north European countries call for Russian soldier to be banned from the Schengen visa zone.

19/06/2025

The Pasvik Folk High School over decades built a cooperation with schools in Russia. Now the former partners organise propaganda events and dress their kids up in military uniforms. "It took some time before we understood," admits Norwegian rector Ketil Foss

The Pasvik Folk High School over decades built a cooperation with schools in Russia. Now the former partners organise propaganda events and dress their kids up in military uniforms. 'It took some time before we understood,' admits Norwegian rector Ketil Foss.