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Russia Uses Fishermen, Tourists for Espionage Near Norwegian Border, Norway’s Military Says
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has been intensifying intelligence-gathering efforts along its border with Norway by deploying operatives disguised as fishermen and tourists, Norwegian military officials report.
According to SVT News, Norwegian authorities have identified several incidents involving Russian nationals entering the northern port city of Kirkenes under false pretenses. Some posed as tourists, while others arrived aboard fishing vessels later found to be engaged in espionage activity.
Brigadier General John Olav Fuglem, commander of Norway’s newly formed Finnmark Brigade, told SVT that the threat of espionage in the region has grown significantly over the past year.
“We see a greater threat up here, and it’s primarily about espionage and the collection of information,” Fuglem said.
His unit is stationed near the 198-kilometer land border Norway shares with Russia in the Sør-Varanger municipality.
In response to these threats, Norway has launched a broad military and security expansion in the country’s northernmost region. The Finnmark Brigade, established in August 2025, is expected to grow to 1,300 troops by 2032.
The unit will include additional infantry and ranger battalions, a new air defense component, artillery, engineering units, and a dedicated reconnaissance company.
According to SVT, Norwegian forces are working closely with local residents in the border region to identify suspicious activity. Residents of Pasvik and other areas near the Russian border have become key participants in early detection efforts.
In parallel, Norway is physically reinforcing its border with new fences, sensor networks, surveillance cameras, and drone monitoring systems. The government has announced that key points such as Skafferhullet and the Storskog checkpoint—the only official crossing between Norway and Russia—will be prioritized for infrastructure upgrades.
Brigadier Fuglem also noted increased cooperation with military units in Finland and Sweden. With both countries now members of NATO, regional collaboration has intensified, particularly with Finnish forces in Sodankylä and Kajaani, and Swedish forces in Boden, Norrbotten. “We feel stronger now that our neighboring countries are part of NATO,” Fuglem said.
Earlier, The Guardian reported on December 6 that the Swedish navy encounters Russian submarines in the Baltic Sea “almost weekly,” with Capt. Marko Petkovic warning of increased activity if a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine.
He said Russia is steadily modernizing its fleet and that hybrid threats—such as drone incursions and potential sabotage of undersea infrastructure—have made the region increasingly volatile.
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