--- title: "Norway Seizes Russian Vessel 'Professor Molchanov' in Svalbard Over $4.22 Billion 'Naftogaz' Debt" description: "A Norwegian district court seized the Russian vessel 'Professor Molchanov' in the port of Barentsburg, Svalbard, on August 31, 2026. The decision was made on 'Naftogaz's' application to secure the recovery of $4.22 billion from Russia. Moscow intends to challenge the seizure." date: 2026-09-03T06:26:04.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/norway-seizes-russian-vessel-professor-molchanov-naftogaz tags: [norway, russia, naftogaz, svalbard, arctic, vessel-arrest, arbitration, crimea] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Norway Seizes Russian Vessel 'Professor Molchanov' in Svalbard Over $4.22 Billion 'Naftogaz' Debt ![Russian vessel Professor Molchanov with its name on the hull, arrested by Norway on Svalbard over Naftogaz debt](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/03/norvegiya-arestovala-sudno-professor-molchanov-naftogaz/norvegiya-arestovala-sudno-professor-molchanov-naftogaz-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The District Court of Nord-Trøndelag and Senja seized the 'Professor Molchanov' in the port of Barentsburg on August 31, 2026, prohibiting the vessel from leaving the harbor - The seizure was secured on 'Naftogaz's' application as part of recovering approximately $4.22 billion for the seizure of assets in Crimea - Russian Minister Cheunkov stated that the vessel is state property and the seizure violates international law; Moscow intends to challenge the decision - Key contradiction: 'Naftogaz' characterizes the vessel as commercial, while Russia describes it as a state scientific vessel The District Court of Nord-Trøndelag and Senja in Norway issued an order on August 31, 2026, to seize the Russian vessel 'Professor Molchanov,' which was located in the port of Barentsburg on the Svalbard archipelago. The decision was made as part of the enforcement proceedings of an arbitral award ordering the Russian Federation to pay approximately $4.22 billion, plus interest and court costs. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing an official publication by the Ukrainian company 'Naftogaz.' ### Court Decision and Movement Restrictions According to the text of the order, the vessel is prohibited from leaving the port of Barentsburg. The fact of the seizure was confirmed by the operational head of the Svalbard Police, Håkon Finstad. The Governor of Svalbard, Lars Fauske, is required to take the necessary administrative measures to prevent the vessel from being moved until the matter is resolved. The 'Professor Molchanov' is formally owned by the Russian Federation and, according to 'Naftogaz,' is used for commercial expedition cruises. At the time of the seizure, crew members and passengers were on the deck and in the cabins of the vessel. ### 'Naftogaz' Position: Compensation for the Seizure of Assets in Crimea The company explained that the seizure of the vessel is a security measure to ensure the execution of a previously issued arbitral award. This concerns compensation for the illegal seizure of assets of the 'Naftogaz' Group in annexed Crimea. Acting Chairman of the Board Serhiy Fyodorov stated: 'This is yet another important step toward restoring justice. We will continue to search for Russian assets around the world until the compensation awarded to "Naftogaz" and other companies of the Group is paid.' Thus, the seizure of the 'Professor Molchanov' has become part of a broader strategy to locate and block Russian assets abroad. ### Moscow's Reaction: The Vessel Is State Property, the Seizure Is Illegal The Russian side intends to challenge the decision of the Norwegian authorities. This was stated by the Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, Alexey Cheunkov, at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. According to him, the seizure violates international law, since the 'Professor Molchanov' is a state vessel performing scientific, research, and navigational tasks. Cheunkov also assured that the crew is safe and is not subject to any restrictions on their rights. ### Contradictory Data There is a significant discrepancy between the parties' positions on the classification of the vessel. 'Naftogaz' and the Norwegian court in the order indicate that the 'Professor Molchanov' is used for commercial expedition cruises, i.e., it performs civil-law (commercial) functions. The Russian Minister Cheunkov, however, insists that the vessel is a state vessel performing scientific, research, and navigational tasks, which, in his view, grants it immunity from seizure under international law. It is precisely this discrepancy in the vessel's status — commercial or state — that will become the key issue when the Russian side challenges the Norwegian court's decision. At present, neither party has publicly released the full text of the arbitral award on which the seizure was based, which makes independent verification of the legal grounds difficult. ### Context: A Series of Incidents Involving Russian Vessels The seizure of the 'Professor Molchanov' comes against the backdrop of other incidents involving Russian vessels. We remind you that the Russian cargo vessel 'Omsk-107,' 108 meters long, after an attack near the port of Novorossiysk, was carried by the current to the coast of Turkey, where it ran aground in the Şile area. The crew abandoned the vessel in lifeboats immediately after the attack. Both events — the seizure in Svalbard and the incident with the 'Omsk-107' — underscore the heightened attention of the international community to the status and location of Russian maritime assets in 2026. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Russia Lost a Vessel in Norway Over 'Naftogaz's' $4.22 Billion Claim](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rosiya-vtratila-sudno-norvegiyi-cherez-vimogi-1788416610.html) - Подтверждает факт ареста, сумму $4,22 млрд, ссылку на публикацию Нафтогаза, дату постановления 31.08.2026, порт Баренцбург, цитату Фёдорова. - [Norway Seizes Russian Vessel at the Request of Ukrainian 'Naftogaz'](https://tvrain.tv/news/norvegija-po-trebovaniju-ukrainskogo-naftogaza-arestovala-rossijskoe-sudno-575553/) - Независимое подтверждение факта ареста по требованию Нафтогаза. - [Norway Seizes Russian Vessel 'Professor Molchanov'](https://expert.ru/news/norvegiya-arestovala-rossiyskoe-sudno-professor-molchanov) - Подтверждает название судна и факт ареста в Норвегии. - [Norway Confirms the Seizure of a Russian Vessel](https://1news.az/news/20260903085526544-Norvegiya-podtverdila-arest-rossiiskogo-sudna) - Подтверждает, что норвежская сторона официально подтвердила арест (ссылка на слова Хокон Финстада). ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Where exactly is the seized vessel 'Professor Molchanov' located? **A:** The vessel is located in the port of Barentsburg on the Svalbard archipelago (Norway). According to the order of the District Court of Nord-Trøndelag and Senja dated August 31, 2026, the vessel is prohibited from leaving the port. ### Q: Why did Norway seize the Russian vessel? **A:** The seizure was issued as part of the enforcement of an arbitral award ordering Russia to pay approximately $4.22 billion to the Ukrainian company 'Naftogaz' for the illegal seizure of its assets in annexed Crimea. The vessel serves as security for this claim. ### Q: How did Russia react to the seizure? **A:** The Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, Alexey Cheunkov, stated at the Eastern Economic Forum that Russia intends to challenge the decision. According to him, the seizure violates international law, since the vessel is a state vessel performing scientific and navigational tasks. According to Moscow, the crew is safe. ### Q: What is the main contradiction between the parties' positions? **A:** 'Naftogaz' and the Norwegian court indicate that the vessel is used for commercial expedition cruises. The Russian side insists that the 'Professor Molchanov' is a state vessel performing scientific, research, and navigational tasks, which, in Moscow's view, grants it immunity from seizure.