Trolls.

This is coolbert:

American army the NATO far north. Trolls beware!

 "The exercise was the first time in decades that a major Army maneuver unit had traveled so far in Europe."

"10th Mountain Division rolls more than 500 miles across Finland, Sweden and Norway"

"The exercise was the first convoy operation in the heart of the newest NATO members, Sweden and Finland."

From https://taskandpurpose.com | BY PATTY NIEBERG | MAY 13, 2024.

"Soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division recently completed an unprecedented 550-mile [nearly 900 kilometers] road trip across Norway, Sweden and Finland in which troops dealt with long-distance logistics, local laws and infrastructure regulations. It also meant keeping a sharp eye out for local wildlife."

[. . . .]

"Over the course of five days in late April, the Army’s 10th Mountain Division moved a convoy of 400 soldiers, 165 vehicles, and thousands of tons of equipment through small Scandinavian towns, around fjords, and across three different countries on a 550-mile[nearly 900 kilometers] road march."

See From Independent Barents Observer an article presumably as applicable to the road march. Vehicles and supplies being pre-positioned the far Arctic north to be used by the American 10th Mountain Division in case of war between Russia and NATO. Gear as delivered by RoRo vessels.

coolbert.

Unissued.

This is coolbert:

“'These are the stories of 40 students, who never had a chance to complete their studies and their diplomas will never be issued to them, because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine' . . . 'This exhibition is to commemorate those students, to raise awareness about the ongoing war, and to show the brutality and destruction the war brings.'” 

WARNING: If you are easily offended by material that can be of an intense and emotional nature hit ESCAPE now.

“'Unissued diplomas': an exhibition in Tromsø highlights Ukrainian students who died in the war."

"Photos of 40 students who died during the war in Ukraine are displayed on the walls at the campus of The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) in Tromsø."

From https://thebarentsobserver.com | March 12, 2024.

"When I walk along the campus building, I stumble upon a line of photos with the young, smiling faces of those who just started on their life’s path. Reading their stories and about how they died, the general word 'war' rapidly transforms into countless personal tragedies."

Students the Norwegian Arctic University having been mobilized for the war effort the Ukraine Conflict having perished, their education and lives cut short!

See from the https://www.unissueddiplomas.org web site the slide show with captions. Very sad indeed!

coolbert.

K & S.

This is coolbert:

K & S = Kristoffersen & Sanders.

First the German. Then the Swedes. Then the Dutchman. Now the Norwegian and the Englishman. They all say the same thing!

And I ask the question once more. Do all these people know something we don’t but should know?

1. "Countdown to conflict with Putin: Norway's defense chief becomes latest military figure to warn Europe has three years to prepare for war with Russia"

From https://www.dailymail.co.uk | By CHRIS JEWERS | 23 January 2024.

"Eirik Kristoffersen said NATO countries have 'two, maybe three' years to prepare"

"He [Kristoffersen] warned that Russia has ramped up its military supplies faster than expected with help from Iran and North Korea, and that Europe must be ready" 

2. "British public should be ready to fight Putin, UK army chief says"

From  https://www.politico.eu | BY NICOLAS CAMUT | JANUARY 24, 2024.

"Brits need mental ‘shift’ to be ready for major conflict, General Patrick Sanders says."

"People in Britain should be ready to serve in the military in the event of a war with Russia, the head of the British army has warned."

See previous blog entries the topic as applicable:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/01/hunky-dory.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/01/svensk.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/01/beredskap.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/01/18-months.html

coolbert.

Kristoffersen.

This is coolbert: 

"If he [Putin] believed that we were threatening Russia, he couldn't have moved on his troops to Ukraine to fight the war there." - Kristoffersen.

Eirik Johan Kristoffersen Norwegian Chief of Defense speaks!

"Russian forces near Norway at '20% or less' than before Ukraine war - Norway's armed forces chief"

From Reuters via Yahoo.com | September 16, 2023.

"OSLO (Reuters) - Russian forces stationed in the Arctic near Norway are '20% or less' of the number they were before the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Norway's chief of defense said on Saturday."

"Norway is part of NATO and shares a border with Russia in the Arctic. The Nordic country borders the Kola Peninsula, home to most of Russia's nuclear weapons as well as its Northern Fleet, which operates Russia's nuclear submarines."

[....]

"'On our border, on the Russian border, there is maybe 20% or less (Russian) forces left than it used to be before Feb. 24, 2022,'" 

See previous blog entries Russian troops of the Far Arctic North deployed for combat, the Ukraine Conflict:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/12/slideshow.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/09/nenets.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/09/contribution.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/07/monument-kola.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/03/stratification.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/03/threshold-ii.html

coolbert.

Madness.

This is coolbert:

At least from my perspective the madness continues. Front-line and vital military hardware donated by constituent nations of the NATO alliance to Ukraine a demonstration altruistic and in good faith but reckless and foolhardy at the same. 

First heavy artillery and now combat warplanes!

 "Reports: NATO-member Norway Follows the Netherlands, Denmark to Donate F-16 Fighters to Ukraine"

 From https://www.breitbart.com | the article by SIMON KENT|24 Aug 2023 the tip from Mihash.

"Numerous reports Thursday said NATO-member Norway has rushed to follow the Netherlands and Denmark to donate U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine."

Dutch donated F-16 according to various web sites probably will not arrive until the end of 2024? That makes sense. You need to train pilots and ground crews, obtain many COMEX full of spare parts, etc. 

And will those planes even make a difference can reasonably be asked?

"Top Ukraine General Blames Counteroffensive Struggles on Lack of Western Fighter Jets and Weapons"

That breakthrough grand spring/summer offensive of the Ukrainian running into determined Russian resistance. According to Colonel Austin Bay such a combined-arms offensive can ONLY succeed if a strong air force a "major component" supporting the ground forces.

Read the entire Austin Bay article the Ukrainian spring/summer counter-offensive his observations and comments.

coolbert.

Norge.

This is coolbert:

NM = Nautical miles. Nautical miles are slightly longer than a mile on land, equaling 1.1508 land-measured miles.

NOTAM = Notice to Airmen.

Thanks both articles | https://thebarentsobserver.com | author Thomas Nilsen. Slightly dated but no excessively so.

1. "Russia warns of artillery shooting 5 NM [about three miles] from Norway's Grense Jakobselv"

May 29, 2023.

"Norwegian soldiers at the observation outpost will have panorama view when the powerful Northern Fleet sets off artillery shooting in the Varanger fjord later this week."

Russia has issued warnings [NOTAM] to both seafarers and pilots to stay away from waters close to the coast between Pechenga fjord and Grense Jakobselv. At the nearest, the area announced for live shootings is only three to four nautical miles from Norwegian territorial waters and about five nautical miles from the shores where the Russian-Norwegian land border meets the Varanger fjord."

"The Notice to Airmen says airspace is closed from early morning June 1 to 15.00 on June 2."

2. "What is Russia trying to tell? Second maritime artillery shooting in June next to Norway border"

June 28, 2023.

"The powerful Northern Fleet conducts artillery shooting next to the maritime border with Norway in the Varanger fjord on June 28 and 29."

"Russia has again issued warnings to both seafarers and pilots to stay away from a large area just east of Grense Jakobselv and the maritime delimitation border between the two countries in the Varanger fjord."

[....]

"It is unclear if the shooting will come from shore or by warships sailing in the area. The Sredny Peninsula is a well-known training area for coastal forces of the Northern Fleet. Pechenga is home to both the 200. Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade."

Live-fire exercise the Russian Northern Fleet, TWICE in one month! How common is that? And very close to the border between Russian and Norway. Intimidation the goal?

coolbert.

Threshold II.

This is coolbert:

Here begins some blog entries based on info the "Barents Observer" and thanks to same.

"Land forces [Russian] at Kola reduced to one-fifth, Norwegian Intelligence says"

"The land forces [Russian] on Kola are reduced to a fifth of their original numbers before the invasion of Ukraine," says Chief of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, Vice Admiral Nils Andreas Stensønes to the Barents Observer. He warns that the consequence is a Russia which may lower the threshold for nuclear escalation, also near Norway."

From thebarentsobserver.com the article by Thomas Nilsen | February 13, 2023.

"Tears are flowing to the Pechenga River from young widows and children as names of fallen soldiers are telegrammed north from Vladimir Putin’s battlefields in Ukraine. The bloody fate of the men that just over a year ago were based near Russia’s peaceful border with Norway and Finland is much worse than previously known, according to a report issued on Monday by the Norwegian Intelligence Service."

Comments:

* Russian active-duty troops normally stationed the Russian Arctic far north on the Russian border opposite Norway and Finland having been deployed to combat duty the Ukraine their losses exceedingly high!

* See this article from 2017 a discussion of "lowering" the nuclear threshold.

coolbert.

Splendidly.

This is coolbert:

A blog entry here based on articles courtesy | thebarentsobserver.com/en/

Item # 1  # 3 authored by Atle Staalesen | item # 2 authored by Georgy Chentemirov.

1. "'None of our guys killed, none injured,' Komi Governor reports from Ukrainian front"

January 23, 2023.

"Hundreds of men are perishing every day, but leader of the north Russian Komi Republic assures that his mobilized countrymen are all fine."

“'Hello from one of the units of mobilized soldiers,' Vladimir Uiba says in the native Komi language in an address to his countrymen. He stands among armed warriors, reportedly somewhere in occupied Ukraine."

"He himself is carrying a uniform with a 'Z' on the shoulder."

“I have talked with the boys and their commanders, and there are no one killed or injured in the battle unit,” Uiba underlines in the video report posted on his Telegram channel."

See all previous blog entries Komi people as relevant to the Ukraine Conflict:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/09/contribution.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/02/komi-i.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/02/komi-ii.html

Read also from the wiki of the Komi people:     

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komi_peoples

2. "Military commissar threatens local opposition lawmaker to “get things straight” about why her husband is not at the front"

January 26, 2023.

"Chief draft officer Andrei Artemiev does not like Olga Tuzhikova's human rights activities. Tuzhikova, a member of the Petrozavodsk City Council, is trying to help mobilized and volunteer soldiers to return home."

"The military commissar of Karelia, Andrei Artemiev, has threatened local politician Olga Tuzhikova to 'straighten things out' about why her husband has not been called up for the war in Ukraine. The legislator is a lawyer and well understood this to be a direct threat and revenge for her human rights activities. Tuzhikova helps mobilized and volunteer soldiers who want to return home."

3. "Ahead of deployment in Ukraine, Russian Arctic troops shoot missiles [rockets] near border to Norway and Finland"

January 30, 2023.

"The motorized rifle brigade in Pechenga is exercising with multiple-launch rocket system Grad and self-propelled guns Akatsia only few kilometers [about ten kilometers]  from the two Nordic countries."

"Live fire training this week takes place at the Shary shooting range near Pechenga, the main base of the 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade. The exercise is lead by officers and instructors with experience from the war against Ukraine, the Northern Fleet informs."

"The shooting range is located only about ten kilometers [6 miles] from the border to Norway. Depending of the projectile, the Akatsia howitzer has a range of up to 24 km [14 miles], while the Grad can shoot rockets up to 30 km [18 miles]."

BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher somewhat dated by modern standards but still quite devastating if used properly. A battalion of such launchers [18 firing pieces] firing simultaneously on the same target can destroy an entire grid square of a thousand meters on a side in mere seconds.

coolbert.

Psychological.

This is coolbert:

“'The project benefits from all the uncertainty and speculation. Poseidon is primarily a psychological weapon,' . . .  'Submarines carrying them are likely tasked with launching the torpedo drones against high-value targets after a large-scale conventional or nuclear war has already been settled, wreaking havoc against an opponent’s coastal cities regardless of who wins,'” - Ina Holst-Pedersen Kvam.

Big bad Russian unmanned nuclear powered / autonomous torpedo n with large oversized nuclear warhead a severe danger to the USA without question.

Big bad Russian unmanned nuclear powered / autonomous torpedo with large oversized nuclear warhead now having been tested. Mockups at this stage of development only.

"Poseidon nuclear torpedo tested in Arctic waters is primarily a psychological weapon, expert says"

From thebarentsobserver.com the story byThomas Nilsen January 17, 2023.

"A series of throw tests of Poseidon mockups from the special purpose submarine 'Belgorod' is completed in the Barents Sea, but fully operative versions are likely years into the future."

"According to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, dummy versions, so-called mockups, of the Poseidon torpedo have been launched at different depths 'to clarify the behavior of the submarine.'"

Big bad Russian unmanned nuclear powered / autonomous torpedo with large oversized nuclear warhead of stupendous size undeniably a great danger to USA, but primarily a psychological weapon and nothing more than that?

Poseidon, primarily psychological weapon to be used in case of a global thermonuclear war, destroying cities and port facilities via a tsunami of prodigious size everything for many miles inland destruction total and complete!

The Soviet Union during the time of the Cold War were very fond of boasting of weapons of enormous size and destructive power able to totally obliterate the United States if not the entire planet. Soviet weaponry was always the biggest and most powerful second to none!

coolbert.

Defection.

This is coolbert:

WARNING: Independent Barents Observer is a "flagged" Internet media website in the Russian Federation. Meaning that Russian citizens, nationals and perhaps foreign residents residing in Russia are strongly discouraged if not banned from viewing the "Barents" website.  

FSB = Russian internal counter intelligence service to include border guards.

Deserter / defector from the Wagner PMC Grove has crossed the border from Russia into Norway in very dramatic fashion and will probably be giving sanctuary.

"Shots were fired by FSB, Wagner defector escaping to Norway is willing to testify"

"FSB border guards opened fire after the man running the polar night in the snow across the Pasvik River from Russia to Norway. The man, allegedly a defector from the Wagner mercenary group, says he is willing to testify against war criminal [alleged] Yevgeny Prigozhin."

From thebarentsobserver the story by Thomas Nilsen and Georgy Chentemirov January 15, 2023.

"It was shortly before 2 am the night before Friday a Russian citizen managed to get through the barbed wire fence not far from the town of Nikel and run over the Pasvik River to safety in Norway."

See the You Tube video courtesy https://gulagu.net/ an organization I didn't know even existed.

"Another evacuation completed successfully. More precisely, here we are not even talking about evacuation, but about a [defector / deserter] illegally crossing the border and escaping from Russia under the barking of watchdogs and shots in the back from the border service of the FSB."

To see subtitles of your own choosing [i.e. English] go to and enter: settings / subtitles / Russian auto-generated / auto / translate / scroll to English and enter.

"The escape was dramatic, the man tells via phone from Oslo in a live recording posted on the Gulagu.net’s YouTube channel."

"He was quickly brought to Oslo because of extreme security considerations in the Kirkenes area."

And I might very well suspect this deserter / defector will be of great interest to both Norwegian and NATO intelligence. His knowledge of Wagner PMC and the role of Wagner in the Ukraine conflict will be vital if not unique.

Norway and NATO also BEWARE the false defector! A person intentionally defecting sent over to the other side to sow dissension and spread disinformation. This type of procedure was not commonly used by the Soviet intelligence services during the Cold War but as I understand it was not so uncommon either. Very careful interrogation will be required to determine man determine whether this man is a true or false defector.

coolbert.

Regulators.

This is coolbert:

Blocked evidently as meaning not available in Russia for viewing on the Internet.

"Barents Observer" as linked to the blog banned in Russia.

Too much anti-Russia coverage for the folks in Moscow. 

"The Barents Observer is requested closed by Russia's General Prosecutor"

"Blocked for the second time: According to the state attorney in Moscow, the Norwegian newspaper publishes 'false news about terrorism' and seeks to 'destabilize the political situation in Russia.'"

From thebarentsobserver.com the article by Atle Staalesen October 31, 2022.

"The small newspaper based in Kirkenes, Norway, is again on the agenda of Russian censorship authorities. It was blocked by media regulator Roskomnadzor already in early 2019. This week, it got double-blocked by the country’s General Prosecutor."

"The online newspaper that publishes in both English and Russian was notified about the decision on Saturday the 29th of October. In a letter, the General Prosecutor’s office gives the Barents Observer 24 hours to delete all 'illegal information.'”

THE WRATH OF THE RUSSIAN CANNOT BE IGNORED?

"Barents" twenty-four hours to get out of town or else!

coolbert.

Preparedness.

This is coolbert:

Serious doings without question and cannot be ignored!

"Norway raises military readiness"

Press release from www.regjeringen.no | Date: 01/11/2022.

"At the advice of the Chief of Defense, the Government has decided to increase the readiness of the Norwegian Armed Forces as of 1 November. This means that Norway will now implement the next phase of its preparedness plans. The operations and activities of the Norwegian Armed Forces are being adjusted in response to the serious security situation Europe is facing."

"‘We are confronting the most serious security situation we have seen in decades. There are no indications that Russia intends to expand its war to other countries, but rising tensions mean that we are more exposed to threats, espionage and foreign influence operations. This makes it necessary for all NATO countries, including Norway, to be more vigilant,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre."

And as with all things the Norwegian military in time of crisis remember the imperative of the poster on the wall!

coolbert.

Permission.

This is coolbert:

American surveillance aircraft active the Barents Sea. I would have thought such flights within the context of NATO mission would be without controversy. I guess not.

 "U.S aircraft flew Norwegian airspace on surveillance mission outside Russia's nuclear sub bases"

"Norway’s reassurance policy towards Russia has for the most followed a practice that allied intelligence missions to airspace outside the Kola Peninsula should not take off, land, or fly over Norwegian airspace. On Wednesday, a U.S. Air Force plane was indeed inside Norwegian airspace, both before and after the flight aimed to monitor Russia's military forces from above the eastern Barents Sea."

WE MUST REASSURE THE RUSSIAN.

From thebarentasobsaerver.com the article By Thomas Nilsen November 02, 2022.

"After joint training with a pair of Norwegian F-35 fighter jets over Troms region inside the Arctic Circle on Wednesday, the American RC-135W aircraft continued to international airspace over the Barents Sea and flew a well-known surveillance route just north of Russia’s Kola Peninsula."

Follow the sequence of events as described: 1. American surveillance aircraft in joint training mission with Norwegian F-35 fighter planes. 2. American aircraft continues flight over the Barents Sea, all the time in international airspace. 3. American aircraft returns to home base in England, flying over Norwegian airspace in "violation" of announced policy.

THE RUSSIAN WILL TAKE NOTICE AND NOT BE HAPPY?

coolbert.

José.

This is coolbert:

GRU = Russian military intelligence.

No way José. Academic hardly his chosen and real profession.

1. "Suspected Russian spy arrested in Norway spent years studying in Canada"

From www.theguardian.com 

"Man posing as Brazilian academic José Assis Giammaria thought to have used his time in the country to build up a deep-cover identity"

Additionally from our good friends at the "Barents Observer".

2. "Spy suspected Tromsø researcher José is GRU-linked Mikhail" 

By Thomas Nilsen October 29, 2022.

"Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) has charged Mikhail Mikushin with gathering illegal intelligence while working under fake identity at UiT Arctic University of Norway."

"The suspected man said he was Brazilian. At the University in Tromsø, he worked for free with a research group named Grey Zone, focusing on hybrid threats and warfare. The university has now removed his name from the group of 33 listed Norwegian and international researchers on the project."

Those two nations most vital to American intelligence interests during the Cold War 1. Norway and 2. Australia. Norway and the vicinity the Barents Sea vital to watching and monitoring the Soviet naval bastion of the  Northern Red Banner Fleet. In particular that naval bastion the Barents Sea with the preponderance of the Soviet missile-firing submarine force a great danger to the USA.

NOT hard to imagine the Russians during a time of crisis with the USA having now an elevated concern with the Barents Sea and environs. Intelligence as to be gleaned from human sources such as José vital at this exact moment.

coolbert.

Evaders.

This is coolbert:

Russian military reservists being activated for the Ukraine Conflict [300,000] some crossing the border between Russian and Norway to avoid military duty a hot-button item in the far north evidently.

Thanks in all cases to the "Barents Observer" all articles by Thomas Nilsen.

1. "Norway prepares for Russians fleeing military service"

September 30, 2022.

"It is starting to get cold in northernmost Norway and illegal border crossings in the wilderness could be dangerous. A police helicopter was Friday sent north from Oslo to patrol the border."

Helicopter with infra-red sensing to detect persons distressed and lost in the wilderness, in danger of FREEZING to death!

2. "FSB tightens control at Arctic exit route amid border closure rumors"

September 27, 2022.

"Crowds of young men fleeing from conscription are Tuesday morning heading towards Norway from Murmansk. Controls are intensified at Titovka checkpoint."

FSB Russian border guards checkpoints between the Russian and Norwegian border strengthened and document checks intensified. Show us your papers.

3. "'With military background, I had to make a quick decision,' Vladimir said after crossing northern border to Norway"

September 25, 2022.

"Vladimir Prokushev (36) believes the majority of those being sent to war have very little motivation to fight against Ukraine."

Just about ZERO motivation I might assume quite correctly so.

4. "More Russian men flee Putin's call-up decree via northern borders"

September 26, 2022.

"Both Finland and Norway saw more military-aged Russian men crossing borders this weekend. But still far from the queues reported from Moscow airports and other exit checkpoints in the South Caucasus and Central Asia."

Russian citizens fleeing the conscription call-up will be eligible for asylum? Given a legal status and not living in an unending limbo? That remains to be seen.

coolbert.

Offshore.

This is coolbert:

Within context of the apparent sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 & 2 this drone reconnaissance [if that is what it is] sounds ominous.

Article by JACK NEWMAN FOR MAILONLINE 28 September 2022 | 

"Norway's North Sea oil rigs step up security after being buzzed by mysterious drones: Fears of 'deliberate attack' on off-shore platforms after Baltic Sea gas leak sabotage"

* "Norway has increased security on its gas and oil sites in the North Sea" * "Mysterious drones have been spotted only 50m [one-hundred fifty feet] away from the offshore rigs" * "Russia has been accused of causing explosions on Nord Stream pipes" 

"Norway is beefing up security on its offshore North Sea oil rigs after mysterious drones came within 50m [one-hundred feet] of its platforms."

"The country's Petroleum Safety Authority said the unmanned aerial vehicles could carry out 'deliberate attacks' on the infrastructure or smash into helicopters transporting offshore workers to and from the rigs."

ATTACK ON THOSE DRILLING RIGS THE NORTH SEA WILL BRING UNTOLD MISERY TO EUROPE BEYOND THE DAMAGE ALREADY DONE TO THE NORD STREAM PIPELINES.

"Norway is now Europe's biggest gas supplier after the Kremlin turned off its taps, wreaking energy havoc across the continent."

coolbert.

Spitzbergen.

This is coolbert:

Spitzbergen? The Ukraine Conflict. Spitzbergen?

As with Lithuania and Kaliningrad so now goes Spitzbergen and Norway?

NATO sanctions Russia as implemented by Norway. Russian coal miners Spitzbergen will starve!

"Russian senator slams Norway’s blockage of Russian goods to Spitsbergen"

From the Russian Internet outlet TASS and thanks to same.

"Konstantin Kosachev noted that by making such a decision, the Norwegian authorities sought to leave Russian miners without food, which was totally immoral and violated human rights and the principles of humanity"

Read of the Russian staffed coal mine Barentsburg, Spitzbergen. Spitzbergen sovereign territory of Norway.

"MOSCOW, June 29. /TASS/. Norway’s refusal to allow the transit of Russian goods to the island of Spitsbergen violates human rights and the principles of humanity, Russian Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev said on Wednesday."

"'It is about food for Russian miners working in that settlement. By making such a decision, the Norwegian authorities seek to leave Russian miners without food, which is totally immoral. It violates human rights and the principles of humanity,'" - Senator Kosachev.

RESUPPLY THE ARCTIC ISLAND BY SHIP THE REQUISITE AMOUNT ONLY P0SSIBLE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS! NO SHIP NO FOOD!

OH, I'm telling you people in no uncertain terms. ONE of these days, some damn fool thing in a place like Spitzbergen will set off World War Three. Just don't look up! Nice image too. Norway and Russia in total harmony and friendship. Sure.

coolbert.

Svalbard.

This is coolbert.

Courtesy the tip from Alonzo.

A scheme and crafty action by bad actors? Who knows?

"Undersea Cable Connecting Norway With Arctic Satellite Station Has Been Mysteriously Severed"

"The cables run through a highly strategic stretch of water near where the Barents and Norwegian Sea meet."

"An undersea fiberoptic cable located between mainland Norway and the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean has been put out of action in a still-mysterious incident."

Red arrow points to Svalbard Land. Thanks to Google Maps. Svalbard in the Greenland Sea and as shown the geographic location with relation to Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, Novaya Zemlya.

Consider recent articles from the Independent Barents Observer military activity the vicinity Svalbard:

1. "In a surprise direction, Northern Fleet [Russian] grouping sails west of Svalbard on annual Arctic voyage"

"The anti-submarine destroyer Severomorsk leads the Russian navy group, said to carry out 'a set of measured aimed at protecting the interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic.'”

2. "Moscow dissatisfied with Norwegian navy visit to Arctic archipelago"

"Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Friday said the recent navy visit to Svalbard is the latest step by Oslo in a series of successive actions to include this territory in the sphere of national military development."

3. "Moscow aims to enhance presence in Svalbard as part of hybrid-strategy, expert warns"

"​'A hybrid-strategy is underway in which Russia bolsters its legitimate presence in Svalbard on one hand while raising tensions in the maritime space on the other hand,' says polar geopolitics expert Elizabeth Buchanan."

4. "Disruption at one of two undersea cables to Svalbard"

"There is no redundant between the Arctic archipelago and mainland Norway after loss of power in the area where the fiberoptic cable follows the seabed down to a depth of 2,700 meters [about 9,000 feet] in the Greenland Sea."

Hooliganism on the oceanic bottom? Ripping up a fiber-optic cable in such a remote area hardly an easy task. NOR is the first time such an event has occurred! All suspicions directed at Moscow?

The ability of a Russian deep-diving submarine of the Losharik class to operate at such a depth nil. An unmanned deep submersible vehicle of the Konsul class more appropriate! 

coolbert.

 

Norway.

This is coolbert:

Before there was the Battle of Britain there was the Battle of Britain?

Normally the historians generally agree that German invasion of Great Britain was thwarted in the main by the inability of the German Air Force [Luftwaffe] to gain air supremacy [or superiority] over the British Royal Air Force [1940].

NOT ENTIRELY CORRECT?

Thanks to a recent edition of BBC History Magazine and as extracted from the article by Nick Hewitt.

"THE FORGOTTEN BATTLE OF BRITAIN."

"The Battle of Britain was a humiliation for the Luftwaffe, which may have lost almost 2,000 aircraft and well over 4,000 airmen . . . "

"But in truth, there's little chance that Germany could have invaded England, even if the RAF [Royal Air Force] had been defeated in the Battle of Britain. That's because, some weeks earlier, Britain had already, in effect, been saved."

SAVED AS A RESULT OF THE NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN AND THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE.

THE GERMAN NAVY IN THE AFTERMATH OF NORWAY UNABLE TO MORE OR LESS CARRY OUT ANY MISSION IN SUPPORT OF AN AMPHIBIOUS INVASION OF ENGLAND!

Damage to the German Kriegsmarine: "perhaps the single most determining factor undermining proposals for the invasion of England."

And to this assertion the RAF fighter pilot would say??

coolbert.

Jan Mayen.

This is coolbert:

Jan Mayen island. Arctic. A land only the locals could love. If only there were any locals.

Once more the Arctic/Norwegian/Russian connection.

Russians in a lather. 

"lath•er  - - n: condition of anxious or heated discomposure; agitation."

"Russia alarmed by U.S. Air Force visit to Norwegian island"

"MOSCOW/OSLO (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday it was alarmed by a trip to a Norwegian outpost in the Arctic by a U.S. Air Force unit and urged Oslo to refrain from what it said were de-stabilizing moves in the strategic region."

USAF PERSONNEL CONDUCTING A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND NOTHING MORE AND ALARM BELLS IN MOSCOW GOING OFF ALL OVER THE PLACE??

Take-off and landing of American C-130 transport aircraft Jan Mayen the item at question here? Take-off and landings of NATO aircraft Jan Mayen already routine. So what is the big deal?

Jan Mayen occupied by scant allied military units [weathermen] during World War Two. Attempts by the German to occupy the island during the conflict for naught.

Russian alarm much to-do about nothing? At this point in the game of strategic geo-political considerations it can only be deemed so.

coolbert.