Camilla Jessen
Russian spies pose as tourists near Norway border.
Norwegian military officials are warning of increased covert activity along the country’s northern frontier with Russia.
Intelligence gathering disguised as everyday civilian behaviour is becoming a growing concern in remote border areas.
Undercover activity
Russian agents have been operating near the Norway–Russia border while posing as fishermen and tourists, according to Commander John Olav Fuglem of the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Fuglem, who leads the Finnmark Brigade, said suspected operatives were detected entering the port city of Kirkenes. He warned that Russian espionage and hybrid operations in the region are rising, TVPWorld reported.
Speaking to Swedish broadcaster SVT, Fuglem said Oslo now sees “a bigger threat here and it’s mainly about espionage and intelligence gathering.”
Eyes on the ground
Fuglem said both residents and authorities have become increasingly alert to unusual behaviour in the sparsely populated region.
“When you live here, you become a little more alert,” he told SVT. “And you quickly notice if there are people with a different dialect walking around and taking pictures, who are in places they shouldn’t be, or who are in places that are important to us.”
Kirkenes lies only a short distance from the Russian border and is considered strategically sensitive.
Defence buildup
Norway has stepped up security in its northern regions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The country shares nearly 200 kilometres of land border with Russia in its far north.
The Finnmark Brigade was established last August as part of a long-term plan to double Norway’s defence capacity near the border by 2032.
A Norwegian border guard told SVT that cooperation with local communities is central to monitoring suspicious activity.
“We have a lot to do here at the border, and we have a good dialogue with those who live in the area,” the guard said.
Regional impact
Security concerns in Norway reflect broader changes across northern Europe. Sweden and Finland joined NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine, significantly expanding the alliance’s direct border with Russia.
Norwegian officials say vigilance in border regions is now critical.
Sources: SVT, TVPWorld, Norwegian Armed Forces
