Norwegian authorities seized the Russian oceanographic research vessel, the Professor Molchanov, which was in the process of delivering Russian researchers to the Russian base in the Svalbard Islands. Norwegian authorities did this at the request of the Ukrainian company, Naftogaz, which considered it a security measure in enforcement of an arbitration earlier awarded to Naftogaz. This was for the loss of its facilities in Crimea when it chose to become part of Russia. That the Norwegian authorities would agree to such a request only indicates their willingness to provoke Russia.
The researchers are stranded, as a result of this measure, and Russia is in the process of mobilizing a rescue vessel. The Norwegian ambassador to Russia has been called to the Foreign Ministry to answer for this outrage. It is also, clearly, an attempt to limit the Russian presence in the Svalbards, which is considered to be under Norwegian jurisdiction, but open to all countries, according to the Svalbard Treaty. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, condemned the incident, and said that Russia would respond appropriately.
