Lyce · Hybrid Watch

hw_f9e8e54e00a6da51

Russian Northern Fleet conducts live artillery firing a few nautical miles from Norway in the Varangerfjord.

On 17 and 18 February 2026, the Russian Northern Fleet conducted naval artillery firing in the Varangerfjord, in a zone that at its closest lay 3–4 nautical miles from Norwegian territorial waters, The Barents Observer reported. Russia also closed waters along the Kola coast, from the Rybachy Peninsula to north-east of Kildin Island, from 17 to 22 February. A spokesperson for Norway’s Joint Headquarters said the activity was being monitored and was “expected, and normal activity” as long as it took place in international or Russian waters. Kristian Åtland of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment assessed that the location was “clearly not incidental” and fitted a pattern of strategic signalling towards Norway and NATO.

Occurrence
2026-02-17
Publication
2026-02-17
First observed
2026-10-15T10:30:43.499Z
Review status
Not assessed
Countries
NO
Updated
2026-10-15T10:30:43.499Z

Attribution

Official

Facts

No facts

Sources

  1. Role
    discovery_lead
    Date
    2026-02-17T14:13:31Z

    On 17 and 18 February 2026, the Russian Northern Fleet conducted naval artillery firing in the Varangerfjord, in a zone that at its closest lay 3–4 nautical miles from Norwegian territorial waters, The Barents Observer reported. Russia also closed waters along the Kola coast, from the Rybachy Peninsula to north-east of Kildin Island, from 17 to 22 February. A spokesperson for Norway’s Joint Headquarters said the activity was being monitored and was “expected, and normal activity” as long as it took place in international or Russian waters. Kristian Åtland of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment assessed that the location was “clearly not incidental” and fitted a pattern of strategic signalling towards Norway and NATO.