Citizen

Norway repatriates 69 Russians from ship seized in Arctic

Reuters

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Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Telegram: View @MFARussia

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CEPA

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Anadolu Agency

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2139499

Norway returns 69 Russians stranded in Arctic after ship arrest

Grumant

Arctic Travel Company Grumant

Visit Svalbard

Barentsburg

Governor of Svalbard

The Current Governor

Russian Passengers Back In Russia

Embassy of Russia in Norway

Freddie Ponton

Patrick Henningsen

Arab News

Norway seizes Russian Arctic science vessel at Kievs request

Lars Fause, the Norwegian governor of Svalbard, an archipelago of Arctic islands, said Tuesday that he helped with the return of 69 Russian citizens after <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/norway-seizes-russian-ship-over-b-naftogaz-debt">their ship, the Professor Molchanov, was seized by Norwegian authorities</a> last week.

Lars Fause, the Norwegian governor of Svalbard, an archipelago of Arctic islands, said Tuesday that he helped with the return of 69 Russian citizens after their ship, the Professor Molchanov, was seized by Norwegian authorities last week.

Fause said the assistance came after "good dialogue" with Russian diplomats in Barentsburg, a Russian settlement in the islands, as well as representatives from Trust Arktikugol, the Russian state-owned mining company that runs the settlement.

Fause said the assistance came after "good dialogue" with Russian diplomats in Barentsburg, a Russian settlement in the islands, as well as representatives from Trust Arktikugol, the Russian state-owned mining company that runs the settlement.

"The governor has received very good assistance from the mainland and central authorities in the work to carry out the journey in a safe, orderly and good manner," the statement added, further stating that the Russians made the journey via Kirkenes on the north coast of Norway.

"The governor has received very good assistance from the mainland and central authorities in the work to carry out the journey in a safe, orderly and good manner," the statement added, further stating that the Russians made the journey via Kirkenes on the north coast of Norway.

Maria Zakharova, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, confirmed the safe return of the citizens, stating they received assistance from Russian regional authorities before their onward travel to the Russian city of Murmansk.

Maria Zakharova, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, confirmed the safe return of the citizens, stating they received assistance from Russian regional authorities before their onward travel to the Russian city of Murmansk.

Meanwhile, the Professor Molchanov vessel remains in Norwegian custody in Svalbard pending litigation. It was seized in line with an order from a Norwegian district court on Aug. 31, barring the ship's departure.

Meanwhile, the Professor Molchanov vessel remains in Norwegian custody in Svalbard pending litigation. It was seized in line with an order from a Norwegian district court on Aug. 31, barring the ship's departure.

That ruling came after lawyers for Naftogaz, a Ukrainian state-owned energy company, applied for the vessel to be seized and made subject to a compulsory sale in order to compensate the firm for a 2023 ruling by an arbitration court in the Hague, ordering Russia to pay Naftogaz $4.22 billion plus interest and legal costs for expropriating the company's assets after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

That ruling came after lawyers for Naftogaz, a Ukrainian state-owned energy company, applied for the vessel to be seized and made subject to a compulsory sale in order to compensate the firm for a 2023 ruling by an arbitration court in the Hague, ordering Russia to pay Naftogaz $4.22 billion plus interest and legal costs for expropriating the company's assets after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Norway has acted strongly and decisively in reminding Russia that it can't dodge binding international arbitral awards by simply ignoring them. Holding Russian state-owned assets accountable both upholds the rule of law and undermines attempts by Moscow to control the Arctic Ocean.

Norway has acted strongly and decisively in reminding Russia that it can't dodge binding international arbitral awards by simply ignoring them. Holding Russian state-owned assets accountable both upholds the rule of law and undermines attempts by Moscow to control the Arctic Ocean.

Maria Drutska

Pro-establishment narrative

Norway's seizure of the Professor Molchanov is nothing more than piracy under the veil of legal process. NATO countries are systematically militarizing the Arctic and weaponizing financial tools to strangle Russia's legitimate sovereignty. Moscow has warned time and time again that such blatant aggression will be met with an equal response.

Norway's seizure of the Professor Molchanov is nothing more than piracy under the veil of legal process. NATO countries are systematically militarizing the Arctic and weaponizing financial tools to strangle Russia's legitimate sovereignty. Moscow has warned time and time again that such blatant aggression will be met with an equal response.

Victor vicktop55 commentary

Pro-Russia narrative

There's a 15% chance that Norway will join the EU before 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 15% chance that Norway will join the EU before 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus2

Norway Joins EU Before 2035

Nerd narrative

Maria Zakharova