Authorities in Norway have seized a Russian ship, the Professor Molchanov, under a court order obtained by Naftogaz in Ukraine. This action follows Russia's refusal to pay Naftogaz damages related to a $4.22 billion compensation claim awarded after Moscow's seizure of Ukrainian assets in Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. The ship was stopped from departing the port in Barentsburg, located in the Svalbard archipelago, late on Wednesday.
Svalbard has been Norwegian territory since 1925 and is a demilitarized zone allowing settlement by individuals from various countries, including Russia, under specific conditions. Russia's ambassador to Norway stated that Moscow would seek the ship's release through legal channels.
The seizure was first announced by Covington, a US law firm representing Naftogaz, which is working to secure compensation awarded by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2023. Russia has not complied with the payment of the fine, legal fees, and interest amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, prompting Naftogaz to pursue local court actions for the seizure and forced sale of Russian commercial assets.
Naftogaz acting CEO Sergii Fedorenko stated, "Russia cannot evade responsibility simply by refusing to comply with an international arbitral award." Covington reported that it had been tracking the Professor Molchanov for months, and the Nord-Troms and Senja District Court approved the application for seizure on Monday.
The Svalbard governor's office confirmed the ship's seizure and stated that it would be held in Svalbard. The governor's office will ensure the welfare of the crew and passengers in collaboration with Trust Arktikugol, the Russian enterprise managing the Barentsburg mining settlement.
Norway's Justice Ministry indicated that the matter does not directly involve the Oslo government, stating, "Russia can demand that the district court reassess the case." Ambassador Nikolai Korchunov reiterated Moscow's demand for the immediate release of the vessel and the safety of its passengers and crew. The Kremlin has also summoned Norway's ambassador in Moscow to file a formal complaint.
The Professor Molchanov, a repurposed research vessel, arrived in Barentsburg on Tuesday with a group of Russian scientists. Andrei Gorbunov, editor-in-chief of Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP) radio, reported that the seizure has not affected the expedition participants or the ship's crew, stating that no one has been arrested and operations continue as usual. He noted that the ship is currently prohibited from leaving Barentsburg, but it remains unclear how long this restriction will last.
Svalbard, located north of mainland Norway in the Arctic Circle, has a sparse population of fewer than 3,000 residents. Historically, it served as a whaling base in the 17th and 18th centuries and transitioned to coal mining in the early 20th century. The territory was recognized as part of Norway in 1925, following the establishment of an international treaty designating it as a demilitarized zone, allowing individuals from signatory states to settle and work without a visa under certain conditions. The Soviet Union developed three sites in Svalbard as company towns, including Barentsburg, which has a population of around 300 mostly Russian nationals, and the nearly-abandoned settlement of Pyramiden, along with Grumant, which has been uninhabited for decades. Tourism has become a growing industry in the region.