Russia-Ukraine Flash Report for 6-29-22 13:15 PDT - Russian Cyberattack Against Norway

While the focus has been on Lithuania and the transit restrictions on certain Russian cargo to Kaliningrad, a similar situation has erupted between Russia and Norway. 

Russia and Norway share control of the Svalbard archipelago through the Spitsbergen Treaty of 1920 (now called the Svalbard Treaty). Russia agreed to recognize Norway's sovereignty over the chain of Arctic islands, almost 1,000 kilometers from the Nordic mainland. In exchange, both nations agreed to have access to the natural resources available, including significant coal deposits. While the agreement has permitted Russians and Norwegians to live in a visa-free region, Russia and Norway have disputed fishing rights for decades.

Norway, like Lithuania, is blocking the road and rail access of Russian goods in compliance with European Union sanctions. The same restrictions are blocking supplies that would normally be flown into Svalbard from Norway.

Yesterday, Russia accused Norway of violating the Svalbard Treaty by preventing Russian goods to cross into Norway by road and rail and accused the Nordic nation of trying to starve out Russian citizens who live on the island.

Norway has said they are not violating the treaty, and Russia still has sea access to the ports of Svalbard allowing the transit of goods and people to and from the islands.

Russia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it had summoned Norway's charge d'affaires and threatened "countermeasures" and further retaliation. The ministry also called NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who is Norweigan, their "number one" enemy on the planet.

Two hours later, Kremlin-backed hacker group Killnet launched DDoS cyberattacks on Norwegian government websites.