Russia protests against Norway's seizure of its research vessel in Spitsbergen

Russia has summoned the Norwegian ambassador after the country seized a Russian ship in a port in the Svalbard archipelago. "A strong protest was sent to the ambassador against the actions of the Norwegian authorities, who detained the Russian research vessel Professor Molchanov on September 2nd," said the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow.

The ship was traveling from Murmansk to the Russian settlement of Barentsburg with employees of the Arktikugol mining company as well as scientists and food, it said. The supply trip to Spitsbergen, an archipelago in the Arctic that belongs to Norway, was necessary due to Norwegian sanctions, which the Russian Foreign Ministry described as a blockade.

Russia is seeking to release the ship, the ministry said. Consular assistance will be provided to the ship's crew and passengers.

Naftogaz had requested an arrest

Norway detained the ship Professor Molchanov at the request of the Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz. The move is intended to ensure that Russia meets its outstanding obligations, Norway said. With the seizure, Naftogaz wants to enforce the decision of an arbitration court.

The court had ordered Russia to pay around 4.2 billion US dollars (around 3.6 billion euros) to Naftogaz - as compensation for expropriated assets on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. Russia has not yet complied with the arbitration award.