Russia warns of missile firings north of Norway as NATO begins Cold Response exercise
Seafarers have been warned about planned missile firings in a section of the Barents Sea that stretches across the maritime boundary between the Russian and Norwegian exclusive economic zones.
Russia’s Northern Fleet has notified civilian aviation authorities and maritime traffic of planned “missile firing” in an area of the Barents Sea that spans both sides of the Russian–Norwegian maritime border.
The warning is active from 11 to 13 March.
No information has been provided about the type of missiles that may be launched.
“The timing coincides with the start of the Cold Response exercise,” said Kristian Åtland, a senior researcher at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, in a comment to the Barents Observer. Åtland specialises in Russia’s military capabilities in the Arctic.
This is the second time in two weeks that the Northern Fleet has issued a live-firing warning for this area of the Barents Sea. The Norwegian Joint Headquarters has declined to say whether any missiles were launched during the previous warning period, which lasted from 24 to 26 February.
The press-service of the Northern Fleet in Severomorsk told local media on February 27 that the guided-missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov conducted air defence exercises in the Barents Sea.
"The sailors conducted counter-robotic training, including firing the cruiser's anti-aircraft artillery systems. The crew destroyed a small aerial target heading toward the ship. The crew also completed a series of firing exercises aiming at sea and shore targets," according to the official information. However, it was not said where in the Barents Sea the firings took place.
It is also possible that the new warning is primarily intended as military signalling to Norway and NATO, rather than indicating an actual missile launch.
On 9 March, NATO and allied forces began a major military exercise across northern Finland, Norway and Sweden. The Cold Response 26 exercise brings together around 25,000 troops from 14 countries to train for the defence of NATO’s northern flank in winter conditions.
As part of the exercise scenario, troops are moving from northern Norway into both Sweden and Finland.
Cold Response runs until 21 March.
