Atle Staalesen

New head commander of Northern Fleet is master of Arctic underwater warfare

Konstantin Kabantsov is likely to take over the top post in Russia's most powerful naval force, the Northern Fleet.
March 15, 2024

TASS: super-secret nuclear submarine Losharik soon back in service

The notorious special purpose sub that was badly damaged in a fire in 2019 will start sea trials in June-July this year, a source connected with the Russian shipbuilding industry says to the state news agency.
March 14, 2024

Oslo ups defence spending to 2 % of GDP

"The situation out there and the needs here home makes it necessary to now strengthen our Armed Forces," says PM Jonas Gahr Støre. The country's defence spending will reach two percent of GDP in 2024, two years ahead of original schedule.
March 14, 2024

The town that houses Russia's Arctic marines is low on heating and hot water

While soldiers from the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade in Sputnik fight and die on the battlefields in Ukraine, their wives in the far northern home base hardly have access to hot water, heating and waste treatment.
March 13, 2024

War losses mount for small Kola towns

The settlement of Zelenoborsky has lost six of its men in the war against Ukraine. One of the killed soldiers was only 19 years old.
March 11, 2024

Oilmen step up Arctic drilling south of the ice edge

An upcoming well drilling by Equinor is part of a bigger petro-push into Norwegian Arctic waters. Ice maps show that the polar sea-ice this winter stretched almost to the Bear Island.
March 07, 2024

Europe needs unique iron ore from Kirkenes, says Swedish mine developer

But the security situation in the Norwegian-Russian border area might scare away investors, admits Christer Lindquist, CEO of Grangex.
March 06, 2024

Ten days after schedule, two heavy lift carriers arrive in Belokamenka after Arctic voyage from China

The Audax and Pugnax on the 27th of February sailed into the Kola Bay towards Novatek's LNG construction plant.
February 27, 2024

Built to befriend Russia, Barents Cooperation transforms to Nordic front

War and aggression has left regional cooperation with Russia in tatters. The Norwegian government nonetheless continues to nurture hope for a Russian return.
February 27, 2024

The Barents Observer called Nikolai Patrushev and asked him about Navalny. "He sounded a bit anxious," journalist Olesia Krivtsova says

"Hello, this is Olesia Krivtsova from the Barents Observer calling. Can you comment on why they do not release the body of Navalny to his mother?" the reporter asked Russia's top national security chief.
February 24, 2024

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Atle is journalist and Publisher of the Independent Barents Observer.

In 2002, he founded the Barents Observer. He was editor until 2009 and later worked as journalist and project coordinator for several European cross-border cooperation projects. In late 2015, following a conflict over editorial rights, he re-established the Barents Observer as an independent and non-profit stock company along with the rest of the newspaper crew.  

Atle has a degree in Russian studies from the University of Oslo and studied journalism at the Moscow State University.

atle@thebarentsobserver.com
@atlestaalesen