Norway Has Detained A Russian Vessel That Was Transporting Cargo And People To Svalbard

This was done in accordance with a court ruling ordering the payment of compensation to Ukraine.

European countries are stepping up their campaign to detain Russian “shadow fleet” tankers, but late Wednesday evening, Norwegian authorities seized the research vessel *Professor Molchanov* for a different reason. This was done in accordance with a court ruling requiring Russia to pay $4.22 billion in compensation to the Ukrainian company Naftogaz in connection with the confiscation of its assets following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

After a 24-hour standoff, the Norwegian Coast Guard detained the “Professor Molchanov” off the coast of the Svalbard archipelago, according to the U.S. law firm Covington, which represents Naftogaz’s interests. Covington had been tracking the vessel’s movements for several months and, in anticipation of its arrival in the village of Barentsburg on the archipelago, filed a petition with a Norwegian court seeking its arrest and forced sale, according to Reuters in its statement.

The court granted the request, ordering the governor of Svalbard to carry out the order and oversee the vessel. The governor’s office confirmed that the vessel has been seized and will be held in Svalbard.

According to MarineTraffic, the “Professor Molchanov” is currently in the port of Barentsburg on Thursday. The vessel, named after a Russian meteorologist, is owned by Roshydromet and has been operating regular cargo and passenger voyages to Svalbard since June 2025. The Russian state-owned trust “Arktikugol” operates in Barentsburg—the main instrument of Russia’s economic and official presence in the archipelago.

Naftogaz initiated legal proceedings against Russia in 2016 to seek compensation for the expropriation of its property in Crimea. In April 2023, the arbitration court in The Hague ordered Russia to pay the company $4.22 billion plus interest and legal costs.

The Russian Ministry of Justice stated that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the Hague arbitration tribunal over Naftogaz’s claim and therefore refused to participate in the proceedings.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com