Police call on people to report suspicious activities after intelligence-linked Russians took photos in military restricted area

Two Russians citizens took photos inside the military restricted area of Norway’s Ranger Battalion (GSV) near Kirkenes, jumped into their car and drove across the border into northern Finland where they were stopped. 

The episode happened in late April 2023, at a time when Norway still allowed Russian citizens with tourist visas to drive private cars across the border for shopping. Today, the Police in Finnmark informed local media. 

“We want people to keep eyes open and call us if suspicious activities, like photographing, are observed,” says Chief of Police Ellen Katrine Hætta. 

It is the rapidly changing geopolitical situation that puts the police on higher alert. 

“In some cases we can give information when it happen, while other cases require more investigation and then we cannot release information,” Hætta explains on why the investigation has been kept out of public domain until now. 

She says photo materials confiscated from the two Russian citizens link them to intelligence services in Murmansk.  

“This specific case has not been closed as such, and the individuals are still being charged,” the Chief of Police informs. 

The two persons drove across the border to Norway at Storskog and told immigration officers that the aim of the visit was shopping in Kirkenes, the town located a 15 minutes drive from the checkpoint.

As the two stopped to take photos of the military restricted area, a passerby saw them and decided to call the police. The suspects then jumped into their car and drove to Finland, a short half-hour drive from the military garrison. 

Norwegian police called Finland, and the two where stopped. The ongoing investigation is a cooperation between Norwegian and Finnish police authorities. 

Norway’s Security Police recently published the 2025 threat assessment report, warning that Russian intelligence has a special interest in military installations and allied military activity.

Related stories from around the North: 

Canada: Poilievre promises new military base in Nunavut as part of Arctic defence plan, CBC News 

Denmark: Denmark pivots new ship plans from Baltic to Arctic defence, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: Defence Minister: Nato troops will be stationed in Rovaniemi, Sodankylä

Greenland: US interest boosts Greenland’s independence bid in talks with Denmark, party says, Reuters