Norway’s ambassador summoned to Moscow foreign ministry as wave of propaganda hits the headlines

Norwegian Ambassador to Russia Heidi Olufsen was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow on 3 September, the day after Norwegian authorities seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.

According to the ministry, Olufsen was delivered "a strong protest against the actions of the Norwegian authorities."

"Given the restrictive measures imposed by Norway on Svalbard against our country, in breach of international law, Russian organisations and citizens working on the archipelago are effectively under a blockade. Such discrimination against Russians constitutes a direct breach by Norway of the 1920 Svalbard Treaty," a statement reads.

According to the Russians, Ambassador Olufsen was informed that Moscow "categorically rejects not only the arrest of the vessel Professor Molchanov, but also Norway’s recently intensified actions aimed at restricting Russia’s lawful presence in the archipelago."

The meeting at the Foreign Ministry followed a flood of stories about the arrest in Russian propaganda media.

By noon on Friday, 4 September, state propaganda outlet TASS alone had published 39 pieces about the vessel and Norway’s "anti-Russian" behaviour on Svalbard.

In one of them, a professor from Arkhangelsk, Konstantin Zaikov, emphasises that the arrest illustrates that "the West is attempting to open a new front in the Arctic in its confrontation with Russia."

In another, so-called expert Aleksei Fadeev says that the detention of the vessel shows that Norway has "transformed itself from a good neighbour" and now "lives up to its role as NATO’s diligent pupil."

Governor of Murmansk Andrei Chibis also offered his reflections on his western neighbours.

"Don’t wake up the bear," Chibis says in a warning to the Norwegians.

"The situation is absurd. And it seems to me that our colleagues and neighbours in Norway are behaving unwisely, because, how shall I put it, you shouldn’t wake a Russian bear."

He adds that the Norwegians should fear the Northern Fleet, the naval force based on the Kola Peninsula.

"We certainly have the means to stand up for ourselves, not least thanks to our Red Banner Northern Fleet. They shouldn’t be doing this," Chibis said.

According to TASS, the governor expressed confidence that "attempts by certain European officials" to force Russia out of Svalbard will not succeed.

It is nothing new that Russian politicians question Norwegian sovereignty over Svalbard. Following the seizure of the Professor Molchanov, member of the State Duma Defence Committee Viktor Sobolev says that the archipelago "actually is Russian."

"Svalbard is a disputed archipelago. We used to share it with Norway, but there are still some of our Soviet-era coal mines there. So, in principle, it is our archipelago," he told Gazeta.ru.

The seizure of the ship took place as Moscow’s attention was focused on the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, where Vladimir Putin was the key participant.

In his speech at the event, Putin again issued warnings against Europe and the West. However, contrary to reports in Norwegian media, the dictator did not comment specifically on the arrest of the Professor Molchanov, but rather on the general situation.

Putin said that the "seizure of civilian vessels, attacks on them, and threats of attacks on civilian aircraft are acts of state terrorism."

"You will have noticed the seizures of civilian vessels and the attacks on civilian merchant ships; moreover, we have now heard of threats of attacks on civilian aircraft. This is, of course, a manifestation of state terrorism," the war dictator said, according to TASS.

The event in Vladivostok took place as Russia launched new, massive missile and drone attacks against cities, towns, and infrastructure in Ukraine as part of its war of aggression.

According to the UN Human Rights Commissioner, at least 437 civilians were killed, including 17 children, and 2,610 injured, including 166 children, in Ukraine in July 2026—the highest monthly number since May 2022.

The arrest of the Professor Molchanov came after a Norwegian court ordered the seizure of the ship following a request from the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz Group.

Naftogaz said the seizure is part of global efforts to enforce an arbitral award secured by Naftogaz and other group companies against the Russian Federation.

The Russian Federation’s outstanding obligations under the award amount to approximately $4.22 billion, plus interest and costs.