– I thought it was strange and had problems understanding the motive. It seemed as if the ship only appeared because the opportunity presented itself, says shipping manager at the Institute of Marine Research Inge André Utåker. It was on 11 September this year that the Russian spy ship “Yantar” suddenly appeared near the Norwegian research ship “Kronprins Haakon” in the Fram Strait between Svalbard and Greenland. – After 18 hours, they thanked them nicely for the company and ran away. What they have achieved is impossible to say, but it was enough to test our reaction and see how we handled it, says Utåker. Shipping company manager Inge André Utåker says it is the first time Norwegian research vessels have experienced something similar. Photo: Therese Grimstad Pisani / news – Completely unnecessary The Russian ship “Yantar” is, according to the Russian authorities, an oceanographic research vessel. In practice, it is one of Russia’s leading “spy ships”. The ship is associated with the Russian Northern Fleet. As early as Friday last week, the US ambassador to Norway Marc Nathanson told news that he knew about the incident in the Barents Sea. – I was very surprised to hear that a ship from the Polar Institute, which is obviously a research ship, was followed by a Russian ship. This is completely unnecessary. They carry out peaceful research in the Arctic, he says. The US ambassador to Norway Marc Nathanson says he was surprised to hear about the incident in the Barents Sea. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news Not experienced similar “Frightening”, “persecuted”, “provocation” and “unnecessary”. These are words that are used in the reports from researchers and crew after the incident. At one point, the Russian ship was perceived as “dangerously approaching”. Timur Chekanov at the Russian embassy in Oslo writes to news that they are not aware of the incident. Inge André Utåker at the Institute of Marine Research says he has never experienced anything like this. – The Marine Research Institute has no experience with situations similar to this one. At least not in recent years, he says. – Must be prepared for more Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Storting, Ine Eriksen Søreide (H), does not want to comment specifically on the incident in the sea off Svalbard. – On a general basis, I would say that Russia is acting increasingly aggressively, using several complex means, and some of the actions are obviously intended to intimidate, she writes to news. Søreide points out that Russia uses a number of different instruments to obtain information about Norway and Norwegian waters, and to influence Norwegian public opinion. – We are in a dramatically worsened security policy situation. We and our allies must be prepared to see more of this behavior from the Russian side, writes Søreide. Researcher Karen-Anna Eggen believes that in the future we will see a Russia with an increased need for marking. Photo: Mathias Moene Rød / news – Increased need for marking – We must realize that the time of low voltage in the northern areas is over. That’s what researcher Karen-Anna Eggen at the Department of Defense Studies says. She agrees with Ine Eriksen Søreide that there may be more such incidents from Russia. – The new security policy era we are in means that we have to expect – and already see – Russian behavior and marking similar to what we have seen in the Black Sea for a long time. That means more unpleasant incidents, says Eggen. – With increased NATO and American presence in the Arctic, as well as Finland and Sweden’s entry into NATO, Russia will have an increased need for marking and will use more resources to ensure national control. For 18 hours, the Russian ship followed the Norwegian research ship. Photo: Norwegian Polar Institute – Not abnormal Naval captain and researcher at the Naval Academy, Tor Ivar Strømmen, believes the behavior of “Yantar” is not abnormal. – It is completely standard that Russian intelligence vessels monitor Norwegian activities and are close – within the limits of the law of the sea and the law of the sea, says Strømmen. He cannot see any violations of the law of the sea or the law of the sea after reading the report from the research ship “Kronprins Haakon”. Naval captain and researcher at the Naval Academy, Tor Ivar Strømmen, says he does not get a high pulse from hearing about the incident in the Barents Sea. Photo: Valentina Baisotti / news – Overall, the Russians are not doing anything wrong, as long as they do not obstruct the Norwegian research ship. That it can be perceived as provocative or frightening is a completely different matter, says Strømmen. By comparison, the Norwegian intelligence ships “Marjata” and “Ægir” are still in the Russian economic zone off the Kola Peninsula. – It can also be perceived as imminent, he says. This is Yantar Officially a research vessel managed by the Nordflåten’s center for deep-water research, GUGI. Considered in Western military and intelligence circles as Russia’s premier spy ship. Has two manned submarine systems on board, both of which have grappling arms and can operate on cables and pipes down to a depth of 6,000 metres. Also has various types of remotely controlled underwater drones (ROVs) that can be placed in the water. Directly controlled by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Has home port in Olenjabukta, 20 miles from Kirkenes. Sources: BBC, Ina Holst-Pedersen Kvam, HI Sutton. Considering changing practice The shipping manager at the Institute of Marine Research, Inge André Utåker, says that despite the fact that the incident in the Barents Sea was a new experience, they have experience with other activities from Russia. – We see from time to time that Russia announces that they will carry out shooting in the Barents Sea. Then they set up a very large area for this. Often the shooting is not carried out. – Our practice has been to leave these shooting ranges, while the fishing fleet often remains. We are considering changing that practice, says Utåker. He says that it is not about taking any risks, but about getting the research done. – It is not the case that we are obliged in any way to respect a shooting range. In any case, it is the firing boat that is responsible for safety, says Utåker.
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The US ambassador reacts to the fact that a Russian spy ship followed a Norwegian research ship – news Troms og Finnmark
