The arrest of Professor Molchanov, a vessel used for Arctic expedition cruises, is part of Ukraine’s effort to enforce a US$4.22 billion arbitration ruling against Russia.
Norwegian authorities have seized the Russian expedition vessel Professor Molchanov in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard following a legal application by Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz.
A Norwegian court authorised the seizure as Naftogaz seeks to recover a US$4.22 billion international arbitration award arising from Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the confiscation of Ukrainian energy assets, including pipelines and gas fields.
Russia has refused to pay the 2023 award, prompting Naftogaz to pursue Russian commercial assets through courts in several countries.
Professor Molchanov is known in the travel industry for operating small expedition voyages in Arctic waters, including around Svalbard, more than 800 kilometres north of mainland Norway.
“This is another important step towards restoring justice for Russia’s unlawful seizure of Naftogaz assets in Crimea,” Naftogaz chief executive Sergii Fedorenko said. He added that the company would continue pursuing Russian assets internationally.
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the arrest, describing it as “state terrorism” and claiming Ukraine’s Western supporters were complicit. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said such incidents complicated prospects for future peace negotiations.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Norway’s ambassador in Moscow, Heidi Olufsen, to formally protest the seizure.
The ministry said the vessel belonged to Rosgidromet, Russia’s state weather and environmental monitoring agency. It claimed Professor Molchanov had been transporting personnel, scientists and supplies to Russian settlements in Svalbard when detained.
Moscow said the ship’s arrest had effectively placed Russian citizens and organisations in the archipelago under blockade and pledged to seek its release.
The case places a vessel closely associated with polar tourism at the centre of the widening international campaign to enforce judgments against Russian assets. The ship is no longer chartered by mainstream expedition cruise companies; hence, any immediate effect on scheduled Arctic expedition cruises and passenger bookings is not expected.
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