Thomas Nilsen

Barents Observer journalist Olesia Krivtsova to be tried under 'foreign agent' article Russian authorities have filed an administrative case against Olesia Krivtsova for her alleged 'violation of the foreign agent law.'

Russia's repressive regime continues to file cases against the Barents Observer and our exile-journalists. We stay strong and continue to work. #JournalismIsNoCrime #MediaFreedom

Russia celebrates constitution day on December 12, including here at the consulate in Kirkenes. A modest reminder about Article 29.5: "The freedom of mass communication shall be guaranteed. Censorship shall be banned."
www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-...

Vedum: Den nye Høyre-ledelsen gjør samarbeid enda mer utenkelig Høyres nye ledelse består av tre personer fra Oslo-området.

Heilt utenkeleg å samarbeide med ei partileiing der to bur på Oslo aust og ein i Akershus (Høgre). Betre med ei partileiing der to bur på Oslo vest og ein i Akershus (Ap).

www.vg.no/nyheter/i/xr...

This new Hybrid CoE paper is a must-read for anyone interested in Svalbard and Russia’s hybrid activities on this strategically important Norwegian Arctic archipelago. 📝 @thomasnilsen.bsky.social @kariagam.bsky.social & @stianbones.bsky.social

Hybrid threats in high latitudes: Facing Russia on Svalbard This Hybrid CoE Paper outlines how Moscow blends information campaigns, coercive signalling at sea, symbolic gestures and surprise visits to challenge Norwegian authority while remaining below the thr...

Our paper about Russian subversive activities on Svalbard after 2014 is today published by the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE): Download, read and repost 🙌.

Russian soldiers returning from the war in Ukraine have killed or injured over 1,000 people, investigation finds Over nearly four years of war in Ukraine, Russian veterans of the so-called “special military operation” returning from the front have killed or injured more than 1,000 people, according to a joint in...

Russian soldiers returning from the war in Ukraine have killed or injured over 1,000 people, investigation finds

At least 551 people have been killed by returning veterans, more than half by former convicts, according to independent outlet Verstka.

Honored to talk to WSJ about nuclear developments in Europe, including Russia’s nuclear-sharing arrangement in Belarus. www.wsj.com/video/series...

The 🇷🇺 ⚛️ icebreaker 'Yakutiya' is today steaming outside the coast of 🇳🇴 Finnmark on her way back to the Russian Arctic after a docking in Kronstadt, St. Petersburg. For the simple reason that Russia does have a floating dock up north big enough for the new generation icebreakers.

Russia marks its presence at Svalbard by placing a "Christmas tree" outside the entrance to the hotel in Barentsburg. Of course, made of empty bottles of vodka and wine. 🇷🇺🎄🧑‍🎄🍷🍾

Kremlin says new US security strategy accords largely with Russia's view The U.S. National Security Strategy described Trump's vision as one of "flexible realism."

Kremlin says new US security strategy accords largely with Russia's view reut.rs/4qefvUL

Russia’s repression record - Committee to Protect Journalists Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, its media has experienced an unprecedented crackdown. Hundreds of journalists have been forced into exile, where they continue to face transnatio...

Russia's autocracy doesn't worry about NATO. What terrifies Moscow is independent media, unbiased journalism and flourishing support for democracy. We promise to provide more of exactly that.

Freaking scared of their own people chatting to each other, 🇷🇺 today blocked SnapChat. Yesterday it was FaceTime and before that WhatsApp, X, Facebook & Instagram. I guess they now are working hard to figure out how to block Telegram. #FightCensorship

This is hilarious 🤣

Cut Trump out of all talks on Russia-Ukraine relations!
1. Trump overwhelmingly supports Putin's aggression, even voting for it in the UN.
2. Trump has given no military or financial aid to Ukraine.
3. Trump issued an ultimatum to Ukraine to effectively surrender by Nov 27. /1

Absolutely nothing indicates putin wants peace. Absolutely everything indicates he prefers continued confrontation.

Which is why russia must be decisively deterred, its economy choked, its leaders held accountable.

Land grabs, aggression and war crimes must never pay off.

#StandWithUkraine

By redeploying half of all operative Tu-22 bombers to Kola, and sending them on missions around the Nordic-Baltic region, 🇷🇺 hopes to scare the countries from giving more support to 🇺🇦. As always, Moscow miscalculates the unity of its neighbours.
www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/bom... 🇸🇪🇫🇮🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇳🇴

Не переходя границы: иностранцам запретят въезд за оскорбление России В Госдуме готовят поправки к законопроекту об аресте имущества граждан, выступающих против интересов РФ за рубежом

Russian lawmakers widen their attacks on exile-journalists. A new bill could open for seizure of properties and savings from anyone designated as "foreign agents". Most of the well-known media personalities who fled the country are on that list.

… enig. Knut var krystallklar. Bra at en UDs (ex) beste Russlandskjennere benevner Putin med sin rette tittel: Diktator.

🫢

Families of Russian arctic warriors are left in freezing cold While the men are waging war on foreign soil, and the state spends massive resources on violence and territorial expansion, the wives and children of military men from the Kola Peninsula live through ...

Minus 30 degrees outside, plus 10 inside. While the men are waging hot war on foreign soil, the wives and children of military men from the Kola Peninsula live through ice-cold winter days without heating in their houses

Joint Statement by the Leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight We – the leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight – spoke with President Zelenskyy today. We have from the outset of Russia’s war of aggression stood by Ukraine’s side and we will continue to do so. Our res...

Nordic-Baltic will continue to arm Ukraine and strengthen Europe’s defence to deter further Russian aggression. As long as Russia continues its war against Ukraine, we will also support strengthening sanctions and wider economic measures.

This zigzag is how tonight’s flight in southern Arkhangelsk region looks like on FlightRadar due to severe jamming. Drones downed in the area earlier today. www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/war...

Hva skal barnet hete? Valg av nye fregatter har forårsaket mye debatt og sterke følelser, men hva bør de nye skipene hete? Skal vi inspireres av byer, konger, helgener eller guder?

For å understreke at grenser ikke kan flyttes med makt kan gjerne en av 🇳🇴 nye fregatter hete KNM Varangerfjord, evt. KNM Kirkenes hvis bynavn velges.
www.forsvaretsforum.no/fregatt-kron...

Russia Wielded Migration Against Europe Earlier Than You Think - The Moscow Times Opinion | Since 2020, stories about the instrumentalized use of migrants have regularly appeared in the news.

A good look back on the 2015 🇷🇺🇧🇻 Storskog migrant crisis. FSB's fingerprints were found all over the operation.
By @kaeggen.bsky.social sky.social & Jyri Lavikainen.

New military hospital in Northern Russia opens doors for legions of wounded men As the number of killed and wounded soldiers on the battlefields in Ukraine reaches a record high, the Russian ministry of war opens its new large military hospital in Mirny, Arkhangelsk region.

Out of sight out of mind: Putin’s war criminals want to hide the growing number of disabled, limbless soldiers. Opens giant hospital-centre in closed military town Mirny, deep into faraway forests in Arkhangelsk Oblast.

The best part of "peace plan" is part of Russian seized assets go to "developing US-Russia trade".

Which is euphemism for "Donald takes his bribe".

В Архангельске пропал мобильный интернет — горожане жалуются на отключение Не грузятся сайты и приложения

Authorities have again shut down the mobile internet in Arkhangelsk and Severodvinsk. Air traffic in Kotlas (southern Arkhangelsk region) is halted for "security reasons".
29.ru/text/world/2...

Poland to close Russian consulate in Gdańsk over rail sabotage: FM Poland will close the Russian consulate in the Baltic city of Gdańsk over recent sabotage attacks by Moscow on the Polish rail system, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on Wednesday.

Very good, adequate response by Poland. Hopefully, Oslo will one day understand that Russia's provocation consulate in Kirkenes should follow down the same lane.

One of the most shameful moments in American modern history.