Russia Demands ‘Immediate Release’ of Ship Seized by Norway Over Naftogaz Claim

Russia on Thursday demanded the “immediate release” of a vessel seized by Norwegian authorities in the Arctic as Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz seeks to recover billions of dollars in compensation for assets taken by Moscow after its illegal annexation of Crimea. The Professor Molchanov was seized Wednesday in Svalbard, a Norwegian Arctic archipelago, under an Aug. 31 court order, according to the territory’s governor.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The action is tied to Naftogaz’s effort to enforce a $4.2 billion arbitration award against Russia over assets seized following Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. A Hague-based arbitration tribunal ruled in Naftogaz’s favor in 2023, and Norway recognizes the award. The Professor Molchanov, a research vessel also used for expedition cruises, is being held at the quay in Barentsburg, a Russian-operated mining settlement in Svalbard, pending a further decision by the governor or Norwegian courts. Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Norwegian Ambassador Heidi Olufsen on Thursday and protested the seizure, accusing Oslo of restricting what Moscow calls its legitimate presence on the archipelago. The Russian Embassy in Norway also said it would appeal the decision. “We demand the immediate release of the vessel and that the safety of the passengers and crew be ensured,” the embassy said. Norwegian authorities rejected Moscow’s portrayal of the move as politically motivated, saying the seizure was the enforcement of a court ruling rather than a government action against Russia. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky Confirms US Envoys’ Planned Diplomatic Visit to Kyiv and Moscow Zelensky confirmed that preliminary dates have been set for the meetings. Norway’s Justice Ministry said the governor of Svalbard was legally required to implement the order and stressed that Norwegian authorities were not a party to the underlying dispute. The case adds to Kyiv’s broader effort to pursue Russian state and commercial assets abroad to secure compensation for losses caused by Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine. Russia claims the Professor Molchanov is the only remaining supply route for Russian settlements in Svalbard because of sanctions Norway imposed following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Svalbard is governed under a 1920 treaty recognizing Norwegian sovereignty while granting nationals of signatory states equal rights to conduct certain economic activities there. Russia operates a coal mine in Barentsburg, where around 350 Russian and Russian-speaking Ukrainian residents live, as well as a smaller settlement at Pyramiden. Oslo maintains that the treaty does not exempt Russian individuals or companies operating in Svalbard from Norwegian law. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.