NORWAY SEIZES RUSSIAN SHIP NEAR SVALBARD AT THE REQUEST OF UKRAINIAN ENERGY COMPANY

Norwegian authorities have seized the Russian ship Professor Molchanov, docked in Barentsburg, in the Svalbard archipelago, at the request of the Ukrainian state-owned energy company Naftogaz.

The measure was authorized on August 31 by the court of Nord-Troms and Senja as part of Naftogaz's attempt to recover approximately $4.22 billion from Russia, plus interest and expenses, based on an arbitration ruling regarding assets lost by the company in Crimea after 2014.

The ship, which is Russian-owned and also used for connections and shipments to Svalbard, cannot leave Barentsburg until a new decision is made by the court or the governor of the archipelago. The crew and passengers are reported to be safe.

Moscow has announced that lawyers from Arktikugol will submit a formal response and challenge the measure. The seizure comes at a time of increasing tension between Russia and NATO countries, also regarding control of routes and activities in the Arctic.

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