Moscow Summons Norwegian Diplomat Over Seizure of Research Ship and State Property

Nov. 4, 2026 The Russian vessel Professor Molchanov. BluesyPete (CC BY-SA 3.0) Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that it summoned Norway’s Chargé d’Affaires in Moscow to protest the ongoing seizure of Russian state property and a research vessel at the request of Ukraine. In a statement, the ministry condemned Norwegian court rulings that have kept the research ship Professor Molchanov impounded at the port of Barentsburg on the Svalbard archipelago and seized five Russian state properties in Norway. “The Russian Foreign Ministry and relevant Russian agencies will seek to lift the seizure of Russian property,” the statement read, noting that the court ruling was handed down on Sept. 22. It warned that prolonged winter mooring of the Professor Molchanov risks causing “operational failure and serious environmental consequences.” Norwegian authorities seized the ship on Sept. 2 to enforce a court-ordered $4.2 billion arbitration award by Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz. In 2023, a Hague-based arbitration court ordered Russia to compensate Naftogaz for assets expropriated during the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Last Wednesday, a Norwegian court dismissed an appeal by state-owned Arktikugol, which manages Russian operations on Svalbard, ruling that the company lacks legal standing to challenge the seizure and ordering it to pay $300,000 in legal fees to Naftogaz. The Foreign Ministry said the Professor Molchanov served as the primary means of transportation for personnel and vital supplies to the Russian coal-mining settlement of Barentsburg on Svalbard after Western sanctions cut off direct air travel with Russia. Read more about: Foreign Ministry , Norway Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russians Aboard Ship Seized by Norway Have Returned Home, Foreign Ministry Says The 69 Russian passengers and crew members were stuck for several days after a Norwegian court ordered the seizure of the Professor Molchanov at the request... 2 Min read Russia Summons Japan’s Ambassador Over Ukraine Drone Deal Terra Drone Corporation said last week that it would make a “strategic investment” in Amazing Drones, a Kharkiv-based firm that develops and manufactures... 1 Min read Russia Expels German Diplomat in Tit-for-Tat Move The Foreign Ministry said it had issued a note declaring a staff member of the German Embassy in Moscow persona non grata, calling the decision a “symmetrical... 1 Min read Russia Reduces Consular Staff in Norway Russia's two consulates in Norway said they would be temporarily suspending their consular services due to the staff cuts. 1 Min read