Latest news with #TheBarentsObserver
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Putin expands nuclear base after frozen site test kills five in radiation leak
A Russian military base that has reportedly seen Vladimir Putin's nuclear-powered missiles being tested appears to have been expanded according to satellite imagery One of Russia's military bases where Vladimir Putin's nuclear-powered missiles are believed to have been tested has been expanded. Satellite images show three new buildings around the size of a football field have been erected at the Nenoska naval testing facility in Russia. Nenoska is found in the north of Russia, around 40 miles from the city of Arkhangelsk, which is some 700 miles north of Moscow. Images from the site show that construction work on an expansion in a forest area began in 2023. It is a heavily fortified area that in 2019 was the scene of a serious accident that occurred when a Burevestnik nuclear-powered missile exploded. Five experts from the Russian state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom were killed after being exposed to radiation. Another accident happened in 2015, when a cruise missile struck an apartment block that housed a kindergarten during a failed test. The new buildings appear to be airtight and plastic and held up by metal, while the Norwegian news site The Barents Observer says there are also a number of blue containers there to hold missiles. A dedicated launch pad is present, with launchers directed towards the White Sea. Burevestnik, dubbed 'Skyfall' by NATO, was paused following the 2019 accident after a small amount of radioactivity from the missile powered by a tiny reactor exploded, although Russian officials never confirmed what type of weapon exploded. Ankit Panda, an adjunct senior fellow with the Federation of American Scientists, said to The Sun: "Liquid fuel missile engines exploding do not give off radiation, and we know that the Russians are working on some kind of nuclear propulsion for a cruise missile." Putin has previously bragged the missile has unlimited range, but tests appear to still be in the development phase. Nils Andreas Stensønes, the boss of Norway's Intelligence Service, has previously said there could be 'an accident involving a risk of local radioactive releases' caused by the testing programme. Reports have suggested that missiles including the hypersonic Tsirkon, supersonic Oniks and the Kalibr missiles, could potentially be tested at Nenoska. Last month, Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said Russia reserves the right to deploy nuclear weapons in response to so-called 'unfriendly actions'. He said Russia was 'closely monitoring" military preparations by European countries as they increase defence production and spending. "In case foreign states commit unfriendly actions that threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, our country considers it legitimate to take symmetrical and asymmetrical measures necessary to suppress such actions and prevent their recurrence," he said.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
NATO Defense Chiefs Meeting Scrapped After Fighter Jet Crash
World NATO Defense Chiefs Meeting Scrapped After Fighter Jet Crash An F/A-18 fighter jet. This illustrative image from June 4, 2024, shows an F/A-18 fighter jet taking off during Swiss Air force tests.A meeting of defense ministers from NATO's Nordic members was cut short after a fighter jet crashed in a military area in the north of Finland. Finland's defense forces said an F/A-18 Hornet fighter crashed near an airport in the Arctic Circle, close to where a Nordic Defense Cooperation (Nordefco) meeting was taking place. The pilot ejected safely, but the part of the meeting that followed the crash was called off, according to The Barents Observer. No cause has been given for the crash. Newsweek reached out to Finland's defense forces for comment. What To Know Finland's air force said in a statement that the pilot of an F/A-18 Hornet fighter took off near Rovaniemi Air Base, by the Arctic Circle, at 10.45 a.m. Wednesday for a flight display exercise of aerobatic maneuvers. The F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine multirole combat aircraft designed as both a fighter and an attack aircraft. Five minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed in the airport area. The pilot ejected to safety, and the plane crashed on the edge of the runway area near the Lapland Air Command Base. The fuselage caught fire, and Finnish media reported heavy black smoke in the accident area, which was cordoned off. Flights continued from the airport, and the pilot was later discharged from the hospital. The Finnish air force posted an image of the crash site on X. The defense ministry statement did not give a cause for the crash, which sparked heavy black smoke and led to a road closure, although the airport remained open. The crash took place on the second day of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (Nordefco) meeting, which involved ministers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Finland's Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said in a statement ahead of the meeting that issues related to NATO, the European Union, and the war in Ukraine were on the agenda. The fighter jet's crash is believed to have happened after the main parts of the meeting had ended, according to The Barents Observer, which said an agreement had been signed by ministers on Tuesday. What People Are Saying Finland's defense forces: "On Wednesday 7 May 2025 at 10.45 a.m., a Hornet pilot from the Lapland Air Command began a flight that took place in the immediate vicinity of Rovaniemi Air flight was interrupted at 10:50 a.m. when the plane crashed in the airport area." What Happens Next The Finnish defense ministry gave no cause for the crash, but local media reported that an investigation is expected to be launched. Meanwhile, Finland will phase out the Hornet aircraft, replacing the 60 planes it has with the F-35A by 2030. Related Articles 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC. This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM.
Newsweek
07-05-2025
- General
- Newsweek
NATO Defense Chiefs Meeting Scrapped After Fighter Jet Crash
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A meeting of defense ministers from NATO's Nordic members was cut short after a fighter jet crashed in a military area in the north of Finland. Finland's defense forces said an F/A-18 Hornet fighter crashed near an airport in the Arctic Circle, close to where a Nordic Defense Cooperation (Nordefco) meeting was taking place. The pilot ejected safely, but the part of the meeting that followed the crash was called off, according to The Barents Observer. No cause has been given for the crash. Newsweek reached out to Finland's defense forces for comment. What To Know Finland's air force said in a statement that the pilot of an F/A-18 Hornet fighter took off near Rovaniemi Air Base, by the Arctic Circle, at 10.45 a.m. Wednesday for a flight display exercise of aerobatic maneuvers. The F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine multirole combat aircraft designed as both a fighter and an attack aircraft. Five minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed in the airport area. The pilot ejected to safety, and the plane crashed on the edge of the runway area near the Lapland Air Command Base. The fuselage caught fire, and Finnish media reported heavy black smoke in the accident area, which was cordoned off. Flights continued from the airport, and the pilot was later discharged from the hospital. The Finnish air force posted an image of the crash site on X. HN-409 syöksyi maahan 7.5.2025 Rovaniemen tukikohdan sotilasalueella. Heittoistuimella pelastautunut koneen ohjaaja on kotiutunut sairaalasta ja maassa ei syntynyt henkilövahinkoja. Lue lisää: — Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) May 7, 2025 The defense ministry statement did not give a cause for the crash, which sparked heavy black smoke and led to a road closure, although the airport remained open. The crash took place on the second day of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (Nordefco) meeting, which involved ministers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Finland's Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said in a statement ahead of the meeting that issues related to NATO, the European Union, and the war in Ukraine were on the agenda. The fighter jet's crash is believed to have happened after the main parts of the meeting had ended, according to The Barents Observer, which said an agreement had been signed by ministers on Tuesday. An F/A-18 fighter jet takes off during Swiss Air force tests on June 4, 2024. An F/A-18 fighter jet takes off during Swiss Air force tests on June 4, People Are Saying Finland's defense forces: "On Wednesday 7 May 2025 at 10.45 a.m., a Hornet pilot from the Lapland Air Command began a flight that took place in the immediate vicinity of Rovaniemi Air flight was interrupted at 10:50 a.m. when the plane crashed in the airport area." What Happens Next The Finnish defense ministry gave no cause for the crash, but local media reported that an investigation is expected to be launched. Meanwhile, Finland will phase out the Hornet aircraft, replacing the 60 planes it has with the F-35A by 2030.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia designates Norwegian media outlet an 'undesirable organisation'
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The office of Russia's Prosecutor General said on Friday it had designated The Barents Observer, a Norwegian media outlet, as an "undesirable organisation", a move which effectively bans it outright in Russia. The Prosecutor General accused the news outlet, which publishes in English and Russian, of disseminating information "with a pronounced anti-Russian orientation". It said it had published articles aimed at "stimulating protest sentiment among the population of Russia's northern regions, at toughening anti-Russian sanctions, and at encouraging the need to build up NATO's military presence near our borders". See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. In a statement, the prosecutor's office added: "A significant amount of information disseminated by the organisation is devoted to discrediting the activities of the armed forces of the Russian Federation." Thomas Nilsen, the editor of the Barents Observer, which has six journalists on its staff according to its website, said he regarded the designation as recognition that his publication was doing "a good job". "Journalism is no crime, the crime is to stop free media and freedom of expression," Nilsen, who was in 2017 banned from entering Russia by the FSB security service for five years on national security grounds which he disputed, told Reuters in a statement. "The Barents Observer will continue to report, in Russian and English languages, about important developments in the Russian north," said Nilsen, whose publication also writes about developments on the heavily militarised Kola Peninsula where Russia's Northern Fleet is headquartered. Nilsen, who has hired Russian journalists who left the country due to Russia's war in Ukraine, said he linked the timing of the Russian decision to a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights on Thursday which said that a 2019 move by Russia's communications regulator to block the website of the Barents Observer in Russia violated freedom of expression. Russia's parliament in 2022 passed a pair of bills ending the European Court of Human Rights' jurisdiction in the country, a rupture provoked by the conflict in Ukraine.
Reuters
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Russia designates Norwegian media outlet an 'undesirable organisation'
MOSCOW, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The office of Russia's Prosecutor General said on Friday it had designated The Barents Observer, a Norwegian media outlet, as an "undesirable organisation", a move which effectively bans it outright in Russia. The Prosecutor General accused the news outlet, which publishes in English and Russian, of disseminating information "with a pronounced anti-Russian orientation". It said it had published articles aimed at "stimulating protest sentiment among the population of Russia's northern regions, at toughening anti-Russian sanctions, and at encouraging the need to build up NATO's military presence near our borders". In a statement, the prosecutor's office added: "A significant amount of information disseminated by the organisation is devoted to discrediting the activities of the armed forces of the Russian Federation." Thomas Nilsen, the editor of the Barents Observer, which has six journalists on its staff according to its website, said he regarded the designation as recognition that his publication was doing "a good job". "Journalism is no crime, the crime is to stop free media and freedom of expression," Nilsen, who was in 2017 banned from entering Russia by the FSB security service for five years on national security grounds which he disputed, told Reuters in a statement. "The Barents Observer will continue to report, in Russian and English languages, about important developments in the Russian north," said Nilsen, whose publication also writes about developments on the heavily militarised Kola Peninsula where Russia's Northern Fleet is headquartered. Nilsen, who has hired Russian journalists who left the country due to Russia's war in Ukraine, said he linked the timing of the Russian decision to a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights on Thursday which said that a 2019 move by Russia's communications regulator to block the website of the Barents Observer in Russia violated freedom of expression. Russia's parliament in 2022 passed a pair of bills ending the European Court of Human Rights' jurisdiction in the country, a rupture provoked by the conflict in Ukraine.
