Behind Putin’s new Arctic Strategy lies a quest for natural resources
The new guiding document for Russia’s vast Arctic territories includes plenty of focus on oil, natural gas and shipping, and
Read more
Author: Atle Staalesen, The Independent Barents Observer
Nornickel is “cynical, corrupt and socially irresponsible”, says Russia’s top legislator
Following a parliament visit to the far northern company town of Norilsk, the Federation Council and its Speaker Valentina Matvienko
Read more
Russia’s Arctic NAO region struggles to pay bills as oil revenues plummet
A major drop in oil revenues has made the Nenets Autonomous Okrug address Moscow for help. Local authorities in Naryan-Mar,
Read more
Lundin Energy expands presence in the Barents Sea
The Swedish company moves against the tide as it boosts its license portfolio in the north Norwegian waters. The company
Read more
Murmansk Shipping Company in Russia goes bankrupt
Its ships were crisscrossing the icy and remote waters of the Soviet North, bringing goods and manpower to bases and
Read more
As sea-ice reaches record low, Arctic shipping reaches new high
Never before have this big volumes been transported along the Russian Arctic shipping route. According to the Russian Federal Agency
Read more
China’s new icebreaker completes first Arctic expedition
A major number of sediment samples have been collected from the Arctic seabed in the course of the maiden voyage
Read more
Climate change is making the Arctic more hospitable, says Russian nuclear icebreaker captain
Skryabin on the 23rd September met with the President in connection with the official Day of nuclear industry employees. In
Read more
Nordic politicians sign landmark defense cooperation deal in Arctic Norway
The defense ministers of Finland, Norway and Sweden meet in the far northern military base of Porsangmoen to sign an
Read more
Despite major technical troubles, new Russian icebreaker sets course for Barents Sea
With only two of its three engines in operation, Russia’s new nuclear-powered icebreaker is on its maiden voyage to icy
Read more
Construction of new icebreaking tanker fleet underway amid looming crisis in Arctic LNG project
The Zvezda yard in Vladivostok will have plenty of complex Arctic shipbuilding to do over the next years. Not only
Read more
Moscow expells senior Norwegian diplomat
Ambassador Rune Resaland on Friday got the message from the Russian Foreign Ministry that one of his senior staff will
Read more
Security strongmen take on key role in Russian Arctic policy
According to a decree signed by President Putin on the 25th August, the Security Council is to establish a special commission that
Read more
Russian military land could become site for new Arctic container port
Land and property issues were high on the agenda when Murmansk Governor Andrey Chibis on Monday met with Russian Deputy
Read more
Record-warm Arctic summer fatal to wild reindeer in Russia, say environmentalists
Temperature records are coming one after another across the Arctic. On the 15th August, Russian meteorologists measured 18,1° Celsius at Cape Sterligov
Read more