Norwegian authorities have seized a Russian ship in Barentsburg, a coal-mining settlement Russia operates on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, at the request of Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz, prompting Moscow to accuse Norway of "piracy" and lodge a formal protest. The move is part of Naftogaz's long-running effort to enforce compensation owed by Russia for assets seized during the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and marks a significant step in that campaign given how difficult it has been to compel Russia to pay. Norway's justice ministry stressed the dispute is between Naftogaz and Russia and does not involve the Oslo government directly, while offering to help crew and passengers return home if they wish.

The vessel, the Professor Molchanov, was detained late on Wednesday after arriving with a group of Russian scientists; a district court had ordered the seizure on Monday, barring the ship from leaving port pending possible legal challenge from Russia. An arbitration court in The Hague ruled in April 2023 that Russia owes Naftogaz $4.22 billion (£3.27 billion) plus interest and costs, a sum a lawyer for the firm put at roughly $6 billion (£4.43 billion) in total; Russia disputes the tribunal's jurisdiction and has refused to pay. Naftogaz's lawyers, who said they had tracked the ship for months, called the seizure a "very meaningful win" though acknowledged the vessel's value covers only a small fraction of the debt, and said they would continue pursuing Russian assets in other countries including the US, France, Britain and Finland.