Norwegian authorities seized a Russian vessel in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard on Wednesday, acting on behalf of Ukraine's Naftogaz to enforce a $4.22 billion arbitration award. The move is part of a global effort to recover funds related to Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and subsequent seizure of Ukrainian energy assets.
A 2023 arbitration tribunal ruling in The Hague ordered Russia to pay the sum to Naftogaz for unlawfully seizing its assets. Following Russia's refusal to comply with the award, Naftogaz has initiated legal actions in various national courts to seize Russian commercial assets.
"This is another important step towards restoring justice for Russia’s unlawful seizure of Naftogaz assets in Crimea," said Naftogaz CEO Sergii Fedorenko. "Russia cannot evade responsibility simply by refusing to comply with an international arbitral award. We will continue to pursue Russian assets around the world."
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to the seizure on Thursday, labeling the detention of civilian vessels and attacks on merchant shipping as "acts of state terrorism." He also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's warnings to foreign airlines regarding flights in Russia, linking such actions to ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin suggested that these incidents complicate prospects for future peace talks and accused Ukraine's allies of complicity in international terrorism for their silence on the matters. Russia's ambassador to Norway, Nikolai Korchunov, described the seizure as a "politically motivated violation of international law," according to the Russian state news agency Tass. Korchunov indicated that the court's decision would be appealed and that the embassy was in contact with the vessel's crew and passengers.
The seized vessel, identified as the Professor Molchanov, was ordered detained by a Nord-Troms district court on August 31, according to Svalbard Governor Lars Fause. The vessel, used for commercial expedition cruises, including to Svalbard, is currently prohibited from leaving Barentsburg on Svalbard.