The Barents Observer
@thebarentsobserver.com
Europe's northernmost independent English-Russian online newspaper. Cross-border news from the Arctic, Russia, and Nordic. Fighting censorship, supporting democracy! Our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebarentsobserver
"We work, we fight, we defend the northern borders," Murmansk Governor Andrei Chibis exclaimed and slammed his hands on Putin's table in a bid to attract the dictator's attention
Banging on Putin's table
'We work, we fight, we defend the northern borders,' Governor of Murmansk Andrei Chibis exclaimed and beat his hands against the dictator's table in a meeting in the Kremlin this week.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
"We work, we fight, we defend the northern borders," Murmansk Governor Andrei Chibis exclaimed and slammed his hands on Putin's table in a bid to attract the dictator's attention
As many as 16 bomber planes flew from Belaya air base in Siberia to the Olenya air base south of Murmansk on Monday.
Group of Tu-22M3 bombers redepolyed to Kola
As many as 16 bomber planes flew from Belaya air base in Siberia to the Olenya air base south of Murmansk on Monday.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
As many as 16 bomber planes flew from Belaya air base in Siberia to the Olenya air base south of Murmansk on Monday.
Анлайн-выданне Barents Observer (Нарвегія) шукае журналіста. Журналісты ў штаце выдання часткова крыміналізаваны. Шукаюць таго, хто будзе працаваць пад поўным імем і без самацэнзуры. press-club.pro/magchymasci/...
November 25, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Анлайн-выданне Barents Observer (Нарвегія) шукае журналіста. Журналісты ў штаце выдання часткова крыміналізаваны. Шукаюць таго, хто будзе працаваць пад поўным імем і без самацэнзуры. press-club.pro/magchymasci/...
Barents Observer looked into the background of Denis, the new "doorkeeper" at Russia's Consulate General in Kirkenes. Guess what? 🕵️ 🇷🇺 🇳🇴
Meet Denis Kurilov, second person with an FSB background at Russia's Consulate General in Kirkenes
In Kirkenes, the Russian consulate increasingly resembles a branch of the FSB border service: staff without diplomatic status live in the consulate building and appear at official meetings and public ...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Barents Observer looked into the background of Denis, the new "doorkeeper" at Russia's Consulate General in Kirkenes. Guess what? 🕵️ 🇷🇺 🇳🇴
Minus 30 degrees outside, plus 10 inside. While the men are waging hot war on foreign soil, the wives and children of military men from the Kola Peninsula live through ice-cold winter days without heating in their houses
Families of Russian arctic warriors are left in freezing cold
While the men are waging war on foreign soil, and the state spends massive resources on violence and territorial expansion, the wives and children of military men from the Kola Peninsula live through ...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Minus 30 degrees outside, plus 10 inside. While the men are waging hot war on foreign soil, the wives and children of military men from the Kola Peninsula live through ice-cold winter days without heating in their houses
Norilsk Nickel’s revenue has been declining every year since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The company posted a 13% drop in revenue and a 37% decline in net profit in 2024. Compared to 2021, Norilsk Nickel’s profit decreased fourfold.
Potanin admits trouble as Russia’s war-torn economy suffers due to sanctions
In a meeting with Putin in the Kremlin, Vladimir Potanin said his Norilsk Nickel company is forced to operate under difficult conditions.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Norilsk Nickel’s revenue has been declining every year since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The company posted a 13% drop in revenue and a 37% decline in net profit in 2024. Compared to 2021, Norilsk Nickel’s profit decreased fourfold.
Two drones were downed in Arkhangelsk Oblast on Sunday, 🇷🇺 Ministry of War said on Telegram.
Defence Minsitry says two drones downed in Arkhangelsk Oblast
Two of the ten Ukrainian drones Russia claims to have shot down on Sunday were in the Arkhangelsk region.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Two drones were downed in Arkhangelsk Oblast on Sunday, 🇷🇺 Ministry of War said on Telegram.
Proven successful on the battlefields in Ukraine, but does the HIMARS rocket launchers work in -20°C? Ongoing exercise in northern Finland with systems from Poland will tell. www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/pol...
November 22, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Proven successful on the battlefields in Ukraine, but does the HIMARS rocket launchers work in -20°C? Ongoing exercise in northern Finland with systems from Poland will tell. www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/pol...
The Russian ministry of war opens its new military hospital in Mirny, Arkhangelsk region. It includes a 126,000 square metre complex designed for treatment of wounded men in war
New military hospital in Northern Russia opens doors for legions of wounded men
As the number of killed and wounded soldiers on the battlefields in Ukraine reaches record high, the Russian ministry of war opens its new large military hospital in Mirny, Arkhangelsk region.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The Russian ministry of war opens its new military hospital in Mirny, Arkhangelsk region. It includes a 126,000 square metre complex designed for treatment of wounded men in war
The 🇷🇺 Yantar pointed lasers at UK military aircraft.
Russia's Embassy in London says the British accusations "only cause a smile".
Russia's Embassy in London says the British accusations "only cause a smile".
Kola based spy ship pointed lasers at UK military aircraft
UK defence secretary John Healey said the use of laser from the Yantar was “deeply dangerous”.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:12 PM
The 🇷🇺 Yantar pointed lasers at UK military aircraft.
Russia's Embassy in London says the British accusations "only cause a smile".
Russia's Embassy in London says the British accusations "only cause a smile".
As Norwegian researchers emphasise, exposure to high levels of mercury can impair brain function.
“Mercury can leak out and become a threat to marine life”
Researchers warn about the consequences of global warming for the environment.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:24 PM
As Norwegian researchers emphasise, exposure to high levels of mercury can impair brain function.
Ukrainian refuges continue to enter Norway directly from Russia.
Ukrainian refuges continue to enter Norway directly from Russia
Several hundred Ukrainian citizens, maybe as many as 500, have come to Norway at the Storskog checkpoint since Russia launched its war of aggression in February 2022.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Ukrainian refuges continue to enter Norway directly from Russia.
Reposted by The Barents Observer
1/5 #Ukraine #Norge
This excellent piece from @thebarentsobserver.com shows in detail how #Russia is actively trying to destabilize its neighbors.
#Norway is a #NATO country with a very important border with Russia in the north. Just across the border is Russia's Northern Fleet, ⤵️
This excellent piece from @thebarentsobserver.com shows in detail how #Russia is actively trying to destabilize its neighbors.
#Norway is a #NATO country with a very important border with Russia in the north. Just across the border is Russia's Northern Fleet, ⤵️
'Apparently, God himself commanded the Russian Orthodox bishop to build a chapel right under NATO radars'
Russian security forces are strengthening their influence in northern Norway — and sowing division within the country.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:30 AM
A Russian-Chinese special deal: Beijing gets big discount on shipments from Russia's sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project
With backing from Beijing, LNG carrier sails Arctic route to banned Russian gas terminal
The Buran is part of a tanker fleet that continues to shuttle to Novatek's sanctioned LNG terminal in the far northern Gydan Peninsula. The Russian company now gives Chinese buyers a major discount on...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:17 AM
A Russian-Chinese special deal: Beijing gets big discount on shipments from Russia's sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project
"We hypothesised that the mammoth died in a stressful situation. He was probably hunted by predators. As the body is so well preserved, we can see the scratches on the skin. They are most probably from a cave lion, based on their size and shape.” Dr Emilio Mármol told the Barents Observer.
Mammoth RNA molecules sequenced for the first time
This data provides further insight into the events surrounding the death of the mammoth in the northern Siberian permafrost around 40,000 years ago.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:36 AM
"We hypothesised that the mammoth died in a stressful situation. He was probably hunted by predators. As the body is so well preserved, we can see the scratches on the skin. They are most probably from a cave lion, based on their size and shape.” Dr Emilio Mármol told the Barents Observer.
Deputy Prime Minster and Presidential Envoy Yuri Trutnev few months ago shot at Ukrainians with a sniper rifle. This week, he chaired a meeting in Russia's so-called Governmental Commission on Svalbard
Putin's envoy, who recently fought in Ukraine, says Russia will stand up for its rights on Svalbard
Yuri Trutnev few months ago shot at Ukrainians with a sniper rifle. This week, he chaired a meeting in Russia's so-called Governmental Commission on Svalbard, the Norwegian Arctic archipelago.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Deputy Prime Minster and Presidential Envoy Yuri Trutnev few months ago shot at Ukrainians with a sniper rifle. This week, he chaired a meeting in Russia's so-called Governmental Commission on Svalbard
The keel-laying ceremony for the nuclear-powered icebreaker Stalingrad took place at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.
Putin: “I am confident that the new icebreaker Stalingrad will bear this proud name with dignity”
The keel-laying ceremony for the nuclear-powered icebreaker Stalingrad took place at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The keel-laying ceremony for the nuclear-powered icebreaker Stalingrad took place at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.
Another of Russia's friends of cooperation with Nordic neighbours was today black-listed by the Putin regime.
Ex-PM Kasyanov added to ‘terrorists and extremists’ list
The Kremlin’s never-ending list of so-called extremists and terrorists now includes 19,131 people and 823 organisations.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Another of Russia's friends of cooperation with Nordic neighbours was today black-listed by the Putin regime.
Short stay: The soldier who illegally snuck into Finland through the woods and asked for asylum in June was deported back to Russia on Friday.
Finland deports Wagner fighter back to Russia
The soldier who illegally snuck into Finland through the woods and asked for asylum in June was deported back to Russia on Friday.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Short stay: The soldier who illegally snuck into Finland through the woods and asked for asylum in June was deported back to Russia on Friday.
A reefer with shady connections to occupied Crimea is zigzagging outside Norway's Arctic coast
Reefer with shady connections to occupied Crimea is zigzagging outside Norway's Arctic coast
The refrigerated cargo ship Avunda Reefer has Russian owner interests with links to occupant forces in Crimea. For more than two weeks, the 132-metre-long vessel has crisscrossed in the Barents Sea.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A reefer with shady connections to occupied Crimea is zigzagging outside Norway's Arctic coast
The latest satellite photos of the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, for instance, illustrate the extent to which local glaciers have melted. "We need to dramatically reduce emissions", - a new research emphasises.
Northern Norway feels the consequences of record-high fossil fuel emissions
With 2025 set to be a record year for fossil fuel emissions, experts have concluded that it is no longer plausible to keep global warming below 1.5°C.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The latest satellite photos of the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, for instance, illustrate the extent to which local glaciers have melted. "We need to dramatically reduce emissions", - a new research emphasises.
Finnair adds three direct flights to Lapland from European cities. Umeå and Vaasa also get connected with 9 weekly frequencies.
Finnair adds three direct flights to Lapland from European cities
The Finnish flag carrier continues to expand its network of flights to the north by adding flights directly from Brussels, Paris and Zurich to airports in Lapland.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Finnair adds three direct flights to Lapland from European cities. Umeå and Vaasa also get connected with 9 weekly frequencies.
Su-30 fighter jet crashed in Karelia, two dead.
Su-30 fighter jet crashed in Karelia, two dead
The plane went down in a forest area in the Prionezhsky district south of Petrozavodsk in Karelia.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Su-30 fighter jet crashed in Karelia, two dead.
Aleksandr from the Russian border town of Nikel used to go shopping in Kirkenes, the nearby Norwegian town. Then he went to war, and never came back. He is one of a rapidly growing number of local men killed in Russia's war of aggression
Aleksandr from Nikel used to go shopping in Kirkenes. Then he went to war
The man is among several hundred men from the Russian border towns near Norway and Finland that went to Ukraine to kill Ukrainians. He never came back.
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Aleksandr from the Russian border town of Nikel used to go shopping in Kirkenes, the nearby Norwegian town. Then he went to war, and never came back. He is one of a rapidly growing number of local men killed in Russia's war of aggression
Moscow is making great efforts in building its Runet — a closed and strictly controlled Russian internet. The Barents Observer has compiled an overview of what is happening in the Russian segment of the internet
The new Russian internet: closed, censored, and “secure”
The World Wide Web is gradually disappearing in Russia — not only as an information technology, but also as a space of freedom. The Russian state is making great efforts in building its alternative Ru...
www.thebarentsobserver.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Moscow is making great efforts in building its Runet — a closed and strictly controlled Russian internet. The Barents Observer has compiled an overview of what is happening in the Russian segment of the internet