Coronavirus: Russia hints it might close its border with Norway, Finland
Cases of coronavirus have been revealed at our neighbors, governor of the north Russian region explains. “I beg all inhabitants
Read more
Society
Russian mother who lost son in army wins case at European Court of Justice
The Human Rights Court in Strasbourg concludes that the Russian Military failed to investigate properly the death of Konstantin Luzyanin
Read more
Russia-Norway cross-border traffic up 20 per cent
2019 could be the first year since 2015 with an increase in travelers across the Russian, Norwegian land border in
Read more
Would closing a nickel plant spell doom for the town of Nikel, Arctic Russia?
The toxic smoke that for decades has embraced the borderlands between Russia and Norway might soon vanish. It will help
Read more
Towns in northwest Russia commemorate liberation from Nazi Germany
War heroes are saluted, fallen comrades commemorated and civilian suffering paid respect as the towns of Nikel and Kirkenes look
Read more
Radiation worries but few details following rocket blast in northwest Russia
Russian authorities confirm mysterious brief radiation spike a few hours after the missile engine blast, but the source of release
Read more
Russia’s Rosneft gives oil barrel-looking toys to zoo-enclosed polar bears
The plastic plaything is aimed to prevent the animals from going nuts in captivity. You might have seen one in
Read more
Arctic Russia: Murmansk Shipping Company loses control over its only passenger line
The Murmansk Shipping Company is no longer capable of operating the 42 year old liner that serves isolated settlements along
Read more
Arctic Russia: Military towns growing while overall population slides
The population of Murmansk is shrinking to a historical low. Only the Northern Fleet garrisons see new people moving in.
Read more
Population in northwest Russia continues to slide
There are now less than three quarter of a million people living on the Kola Peninsula. By beginning of 2019,
Read more
North Pole drifting ice camp set to open
An ice floe has been found for the drifting ice camp Barneo-2019 Two helicopters first flew over the area to
Read more
Cross-border traffic drops between Russia and Arctic Europe
Europe’s three northernmost border checkpoints to Russia all had a decline in traffic of about 4% in 2018. Less people
Read more
Photo report – Pyramiden, a Soviet ghost town in Arctic Norway
This was once home to the world’s northernmost kindergarten and primary school. Abandoned twenty years ago, Pyramiden, a coal-mining town
Read more
Nuclear fuel loaded on Russia’s floating power plant in Murmansk
Reactor testing starts later in October or in November. On October 2nd, the last fuel elements were loaded into the
Read more
Blog – Reflecting on Arctic development while trekking across Central Asia
Nearly five years ago, I wrote a post comparing the Arctic and Central Asia. Though at first glance the regions don’t seem
Read more