Human rights activists believe that the latest repression against Memorial is linked to the declining popularity of Vladimir Putin’s regime Legal experts argue that the Supreme Court’s decision paves the way for the prosecution of members and supporters of such organisations. They also contend that the timing of the ruling was no coincide...

Supreme Court’s ruling against Memorial is linked to the declining popularity of Vladimir Putin’s regime, experts say.

New soldiers are now being recruited directly from AIDS centres in northern Russia A recruitment poster offering military contracts to people living with HIV and hepatitis has been placed on the wall at an AIDS prevention centre in Karelia.

Putin desperately needs more people to be slaughtered in the war against Ukraine.

Farida joins the Barents Observer news team 'Moscow’s repression only spurs me on to work even harder and speak out even more forcefully against the lawlessness in Russia,' says Farida Kurbangaleeva. The experienced journalist has been hired as...

Farida Kurbangaleeva, a Tatar journalist known for her independent reporting and unwavering stance on press freedom, joins the Barents Observer news team

Ukrainian drones attacked Plesetsk space centre, Roscosmos says The drone attack took place as the spaceport in northern Russia was preparing to launch a rocket, Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov reportedly told Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin.

A drone attack reportedly took place as the Plesetsk space centre in northern Russia was preparing to launch a rocket

Russian propaganda claims Norway is helping Ukraine prepare attacks on vessels in northern waters.
www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/rus... #BarentsSea #Navy

Masked police raid Novaya Gazeta, criminal case opened against journalists www.thebarentsobserver.com/democracy-an...

UK and Norway xxpose Russian operation near undersea infrastructure While a Northern Fleet Akula-class submarine sailed out from the Kola Peninsula as a diversion, other Russian naval units from the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (GUGI) began a covert operation, conducting suspicious activity around critical undersea infrastructure in Norwegian and British maritime areas.

While a Northern Fleet Akula-class submarine sailed out from the Kola Peninsula as a diversion, other Russian naval units from the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (GUGI) began a covert operation, conducting suspicious activity around critical undersea infrastructure in 🇳🇴 and 🇬🇧 maritime areas.

Finnair Captain: GPS spoofing and jamming are a daily nuisance The ATR-72 aircraft attempted to land twice. The second attempt was successful, whereas the first was disrupted.

The ATR-72 aircraft attempted to land twice at Kirkenes airport. The second attempt was successful, whereas the first was disrupted.

Cyrillic to be removed from road signs in Norway’s border region Most vehicles registered in Russia are now barred from entering Norway, and the removal of Cyrillic signage is unlikely to leave anyone disoriented.

The signs were installed during a period of cross-border cooperation and trade. Today, the removal of Cyrillic signage is unlikely to leave anyone disoriented.

Permafrost thaw threatens Svalbard’s cultural heritage and modern buildings Svalbard’s cultural heritage and infrastructure face increasing risks as climate change accelerates permafrost thaw and ground instability. The PermaRICH project unites experts across disciplines to e...

Svalbard’s cultural heritage and infrastructure face increasing risks as climate change accelerates permafrost thaw and ground instability. Partner story by the Fram Centre

Collateral damage: Svalbard governor’s website blocked in Russia Websites belonging to the Governor of Svalbard and the newspaper Svalbardposten have become inaccessible from within Russia. When users attempt to visit these sites, the pages fail to load; however, t...

Websites belonging to the Governor of Svalbard and the newspaper Svalbardposten have become inaccessible from within Russia.

The Emirates joins Svalbard Treaty The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially joined the Svalbard Treaty, in a move said to strengthen the country’s role in Arctic science.

UAE becomes the 49th signatory to the Svalbard Treaty.

37 years on, no signs of leakage from plutonium warheads Results from two new studies of seabed sediments near the sunken nuclear-powered submarine Komsomolets (K-278) in the Norwegian Sea show no plutonium contamination above natural background levels.

The highest concentrations of plutonium in sediments were found north of Novaya Zemlya, according to a study conducted by Russian scientists at 22 locations in the Norwegian and Barents Seas.

37 years on, no signs of leakage from plutonium warheads Results from two new studies of seabed sediments near the sunken nuclear-powered submarine Komsomolets (K-278) in the Norwegian Sea show no plutonium contamination above natural background levels.

"No evidence was found of plutonium in the surrounding environment near the damaged forward section of the submarine originating from the nuclear warheads."

Managing Finland’s eastern border The Barents Observer has travelled from the northernmost to the southernmost part of Finland's borde ...

The Barents Observer has travelled from the northernmost to the southernmost part of Finland's border with Russia. We publish this long-read on the third anniversary of Finland's accession to NATO.

Bombers from Kola take part in major daytime attack Two Tu-95MS aircraft from Olenya Air Base participated when Russia carried out one of the largest bombardments of Ukraine so far this year on 3 April.

“Essentially, the Russians have only intensified their strikes, turning what should have been silence in the skies into an Easter escalation,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Northern Fleet soldiers killed in plane crash in occupied Crimea A military An-26 aircraft crashed into rocky terrain east of Sevastopol, killing seven crew members and 23 personnel on board.

Commander of the Northern Fleet’s mixed aviation corps, Lt. Gen. Aleksandr Ostroshchenko, killed in plane crash together with other officers and soldiers.

Moscow court jails investigative journalist in absentia A Moscow court has sentenced investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov in absentia to four years’ imprisonment for allegedly violating Russia’s “foreign agent” law.

A Moscow court has sentenced investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov in absentia to four years’ imprisonment for allegedly violating Russia’s “foreign agent” law.

Sniper shooting becomes official sport in Russia The Russian Ministry of Sport has recognised shooting with sniper rifles as a new official sporting discipline.

The Russian Ministry of Sports has recognised shooting with sniper rifles as a new official sporting discipline

Russian vessels sought shelter in Norwegian fjords more than 230 times since 2022 The manoeuvres of Russian fishing vessels in northern Norwegian waters are blurring the line between seeking shelter from bad weather and potential intelligence-gathering.

The manoeuvres of Russian fishing vessels in northern Norwegian waters are blurring the line between seeking shelter from bad weather and potential intelligence-gathering.

Russians urged to return to landline phones Amid widespread shutdowns of mobile internet services, the head of Russia’s largest telecommunications company has advised people to return to fixed-line communication.

Amid widespread shutdowns of mobile internet services, the head of Russia’s largest telecommunications company advises people to return to fixed-line communication

Oslo steps up defence plan, strengthens control in border region A new Finnmark Brigade will be fully operational two years ahead of the previous schedule, and investments are being made in electronic warfare, short-range air defence and drone defence, according to...

A new Finnmark Brigade will be fully operational two years ahead of the original schedule, and investments are being made in electronic warfare, short-range air defence and drone defence, according to an updated Norwegian defence plan

Worries grow in Norway as Murmansk becomes Russia's main oil export hub Massive drone attacks this week on the major Baltic terminals of Primorsk and Ust-Luga have left Russia with few remaining routes for exporting oil, increasing reliance on the Kola Peninsula. In Norwa...

This week's massive drone attacks on oil export ports in the Baltic Sea have suddenly made the Kola Bay Russia's largest petroleum export hub.

Now on the Murmansk school curriculum: learning to kill with a drone Schools teachers in the far northern Russian region are getting ready to provide kids with training in drone warfare.

Now on the Murmansk school curriculum: learning to kill with a drone

Worries grow in Norway as Murmansk becomes Russia's main oil export hub Massive drone attacks this week on the major Baltic terminals of Primorsk and Ust-Luga have left Russia with few remaining routes for exporting oil, increasing reliance on the Kola Peninsula. In Norwa...

Massive drone attacks this week on the major Baltic terminals of Primorsk and Ust-Luga have left Russia with few remaining routes for exporting oil, increasing reliance on the Kola Peninsula. In Norway, concerns are growing over the ageing shadow fleet tankers operating along the coast.

Ukrainian drone wrecks FSB’s new Arctic vessel A high-profile Russian security service vessel, designed for Arctic operations, has been struck by a Ukrainian drone while docked at the Vyborg shipyard near St. Petersburg.

BREAKING: Ukrainian drone wrecks FSB’s new Arctic vessel

Sanctioned tanker with unclear ownership and dubious insurance sails unchallenged along Norwegian coast The 23-year-old tanker Paz, carrying nearly 150,000 tonnes of sanctioned Russian Arctic oil, departed from Murmansk on March 10. Despite suspicions that it may be operating with falsified insurance do...

Sanctioned 'shadow' tanker with unclear ownership and dubious insurance sailed unchallenged along Norwegian coast with almost 150,000 tons of oil

Meet the Norwegian influencer that promotes Russia A Norwegian man named Rudi Ripnes has been making laudatory videos about Russia for several years. He mocks the sanctions, admires the Russian Ministry of Defense’s cathedral, gives interviews to pro-...

Meet Rudi Ripnes, the Norwegian influencer that promotes Russia