Putin's bishop: Holy mission in Svalbard despite Norwegian sovereignty!

Putin's bishop: Holy mission in Svalbard despite Norwegian sovereignty!

Amid a tense geopolitical situation, the Barents Sea has become the scene of activities that have both religious and military dimensions. On June 16, 2025, Bishop Iyakov was aboard the Russian ship Professor Molchanov en route to the Arctic island of Svalbard while Norway's King Harald V and Queen Sonja visited the archipelago. The Barents Observer reports that Iyakov blessed the Murman Sea and is part of a group of senior clerics supporting Putin's war effort against Ukraine.

What is particularly striking is that Iyakov had previously erected a large Russian Orthodox cross in Pyramiden, Svalbard, without Norwegian permission. These intentions appear to be part of a larger strategy by the Kremlin to use the Orthodox Church to promote the narrative that the Arctic belongs to Russia. This occurs in a context in which Norwegian sovereignty over Svalbard is continually emphasized, as illustrated by the royal presence on site.

Spannungen um Svalbard

But things don't stand still. Russian influence in Svalbard could be increasing as Arctic Today reports on a hybrid strategy by Russia that combines military presence with civilian activities. Elizabeth Buchanan, an expert on polar geopolitics, highlights that Russia may increase its activities in research, industry and tourism to legitimize its presence there.

In addition, Svalbard's strategic importance for Russia and Norway could not be higher. Because Svalbard, which lies between the Barents, Greenland and Norwegian Seas, is a key to military and economic access throughout the North Atlantic. “Control over Svalbard also means control over access from the shallow Barents Sea to the deep North Atlantic,” experts say.

Geopolitical backgrounds

Geopolitical tensions around Svalbard have increased recently, particularly after Russia's annexation of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine. Geopolitics reports that Svalbard is officially part of Norway, but has a unique international status that grants certain freedoms to various countries. Russia, on the other hand, has a long-standing presence there and could seek to consolidate control of the area through military or hybrid means.

The focus is on the town of Barentsburg, a mining center with around 400 inhabitants that is almost entirely inhabited by Russians and Ukrainians. The coal reserves there are dwindling and alternative economic models such as tourism have not yet been fully developed. However, the significant military and economic potential of the region remains undisputed and is being strategically pursued by Russia as part of its national interests in the Arctic.

With a planned international Arctic science center to be built in partnership with BRICS countries, Russia is impressively showing that its ambitions in this region go far beyond tourism campaigns. These developments pose a direct challenge to Norway's control over the archipelago, and the Norwegian Navy has already taken measures to secure its presence in the region.

In summary, the situation in Svalbard is developing rapidly. The involvement of religious leaders like Bishop Iyakov shows how diverse the strands are that are interwoven in the Arctic. Political tensions, economic interests and the question of national sovereignty will continue to shape the dialogue between Norway and Russia in the future.