On Saturday, civil war-like conditions broke out in Russia. The much talked about Wagner group withdrew from Ukraine, and with tanks they moved towards the capital Moscow. The aim must have been to depose the military leadership. Chief of Police in Finnmark, Ellen Katrine Hætta, tells news that they are monitoring whether the events in Russia will lead to increased traffic across the Norwegian-Russian border at Storskog in Sør-Varanger municipality. Police Chief Ellen Katrine Hætta states that they are closely monitoring the activity at Storskog, as the only border crossing point along the border between Norway and Russia. Photo: Tarjei Abelsen / news – We have increased vigilance along the border and good contingency plans and can quickly implement measures if the situation changes along the border. It was reported on Saturday that there was little activity at the border crossing at Storskog in Sør-Varanger municipality, but that the police had increased staffing. – We have increased staffing and we have not received any signals from the Russian side either, but if there is, we will give further notice, says the police chief in Finnmark. Still low activity On Sunday, there was also low activity at the Norwegian-Russian border at Storskog in Sør-Varanger, Ellen Katrine Hætta tells news. – It was an exciting day yesterday, but fortunately we did not receive any reports of increased activity at the border. But even though the Wagner group has withdrawn, the emergency response at Storskog is still maintained. – We continue to monitor and also notify further if the border guard says it will be necessary. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) states that the situation in Russia has not affected Norway. It is currently not relevant to step up security at the Norwegian-Russian border. Photo: Mats Rønning / news – A chaotic and dramatic day Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says that what has happened in Russia in the last 24 hours is dramatic. – It has been a very unpredictable and dramatic day, he says to news. In the morning, Støre had a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Defense and the Minister for Justice about the situation in Russia. He says the situation in Norway is not affected by what has happened in Russia, and that it has not been relevant to step up security in the border areas. This afternoon, Støre will meet the Nordic prime ministers and the Canadian prime minister in Iceland. Good dialogue On Saturday, police chief Ellen Katrine Hætta stated in a press release from the Finnmark police district that they are following the situation closely, and are monitoring the border and paying particular attention to changes that could affect their duties. The police in Finnmark will follow the situation closely, and can quickly introduce measures if the need arises. – We also have a good dialogue with other emergency response actors and assess the situation continuously, says Hætta, who added in the press release that she understands that the situation across the border can cause concern and the population can feel insecure. – I would therefore like to assure everyone that we are following the situation closely, and we see nothing that affects Norwegian conditions, says police chief Ellen Katrine Hætta. Mayor of Sør-Varanger, Lena Norum Bergeng, says the dramatic situation in Russia was frightening, but that they are prepared if it becomes necessary to accept refugees. Photo: Gunnar Sætra / news Prepared if there is a new flow of refugees Mayor of Sør-Varanger, Lena Norum Bergeng, says you cannot rule out a flow of refugees across Storskog if the situation in Russia worsens in the future. In connection with the events in Russia, the mayor was in contact with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, the Foreign Ministry and the State Administrator in Troms and Finnmark. The municipality is also in dialogue with central authorities, who are monitoring the situation closely. On Saturday there was no indication that it will affect us, as it is geographically centered south of Moscow, but that all relevant actors are on alert. Norum Bergeng tells news that they have learned a lot from the experiences they gained in 2015, when large numbers of refugees came across the border at Storskog. – It has happened before and you never know if it will happen again. But you have the situation from 2015 fresh in your mind, so we are prepared for it to happen.
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– It was an exciting day yesterday – news Troms and Finnmark
