In Norway, a Russian ship was detained at the request of Ukraine

Russian vessel detained in Norway at Ukraine's request

On August 31, the Nord-Troms District Court of Norway satisfied the claim of the Ukrainian company "Naftogaz". The court ruled to detain the Russian research vessel "Professor Molchanov", located in the town of Barentsburg on the Svalbard archipelago.

It was revealed that on September 2, the Governor of Svalbard seized the vessel. The vessel will remain anchored in Barentsburg until further instructions are given. According to the authorities' statement, the Governor, together with the Arktikugol trust, will monitor the well-being of the crew and passengers on board the vessel.

As explained on the Governor's website, the detention of the vessel is part of the "Naftogaz" company's ongoing struggle to recover assets seized by Russia in 2014.

Aleksey Chekunkov, Russia's Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, assessed the Norwegian court's decision as "another proof of Western countries' disregard for laws and arbitrariness."

"We have been present on Norway's Svalbard archipelago for 95 years. The Arktikugol trust has been operating there since 1931. Rosgidromet's vessel 'Professor Molchanov' was used to establish communication with our company," Chekunkov explained.

He added that the Arktikugol trust would appeal the Norwegian court's decision regarding the detention of the vessel. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Russia would "respond appropriately" to the detention of the vessel.

"Professor Molchanov" is a research vessel conducting polar and oceanographic research. It is part of the fleet of the Northern Administration for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring. Since 2025, the vessel has been regularly sailing between the ports of Murmansk and Barentsburg.

It has been transporting tourists, scientists, employees of the Arktikugol trust, and their families to Svalbard. Ten such trips were planned for 2026.