Norway Seizes Russian Research Ship at Ukraine’s Request as Moscow Alleges Piracy

Norway has seized a Russian research vessel in the Arctic at the request of Ukraine’s state-owned energy company Naftogaz, triggering an immediate accusation of piracy from Moscow.

The vessel, Professor Molchanov, was detained on Wednesday near the Svalbard archipelago. Naftogaz requested the action as it seeks $4.22 billion from Russia, along with interest and legal costs, for property the Kremlin took after annexing Crimea.

The seizure followed a decision by the Trondelag District Court at the end of August. According to Covington, the U.S. law firm representing Naftogaz, Norwegian authorities reached the vessel only after a 24-hour standoff with the Norwegian Coast Guard. The court ordered the governor of Svalbard to secure the ship and keep it under constant supervision, a measure local authorities officially confirmed.

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another example of the lawlessness and nihilism of the West

Russia’s Foreign Ministry described the seizure as piracy, according to Russian media, while the Ministry for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic called it “another example of the lawlessness and nihilism of the West.” Russian officials said they would challenge the Norwegian judicial decisions and argued that Russia had not received formal notice of the proceedings.

Naftogaz says the action follows Moscow’s failure to pay an award issued by the Hague Arbitration Tribunal in April 2023. Acting company chief Serhii Fedorenko said, “The Russian side cannot avoid responsibility by ignoring international judgments.” The company is also coordinating efforts to target frozen Russian assets in the United States, Britain, France and Finland.

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The Russian side cannot avoid responsibility by ignoring international judgments.