# Expert: Norway’s seizure of Professor Molchanov vessel tells Russia to stay off its turf

https://mins.news/en/item/43767

- TASS, 2026-09-03 13:03 UTC
- World
- Original: https://tass.com/politics/2182167

> Russian military expert Alexander Stepanov said Norway seized the Professor Molchanov to push Russia out of the Svalbard archipelago and obstruct its maritime logistics in the Baltic and northern waters. He called the action a provocation and said the research vessel was taken through “pirate methods.” The Svalbard governor said Norway acted at the request of Ukrainian company Naftogaz.

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