By Bond Robertson 
On Tuesday, Russia celebrated Victory Day after World War II. There were also parades on Norwegian soil that were marked with Russian flags.
In Barentsburg, the Russian settlement on Svalbard, Victory Day is celebrated over several days. On Tuesday there was a big parade in the city’s few streets.
Many vehicles, including cars, trucks, UTVs, buses, snowmobiles, and helicopters, made up the parade down Main Street.
Watch a video of the entire walk in the video above.
A different expression than before
When Dagbladet contacted Svalbard’s head of state, Lars Voss, he hadn’t seen any photos from the ceremony. After seeing the pictures, he points out that there is freedom of assembly in Norway, but:
– The sign appears larger and with a different expression than before. We were invited to take part in the celebration, but this year, like last year, he declined the invitation because of the war in Ukraine, he told Dagbladet.
Chairman: Lars Voss is the foreman for Svalbard. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB
Show more
Voss himself participated in the commemorations of May 9 in Barentsburg in 2009 and 2010. Then there was only a commemoration in the Consulate General – and sometimes there was a commemoration outside the city.
– That was the only thing. There is no doubt that neither I nor my people have ever seen anything like this, he says of today’s celebration.
He further says that the Russian mining company Trust Arktikugol and the consulate in Barentsburg informed the governor that a memorial would be made. However, without an explanation of concrete plans.
– Norway has attacked
Mad
– There have been no rallies in connection with May 9 in Barentsburg before, Timofey Rogozgin, the former head of tourism in the mining community, told Dagbladet.
He lost his job in Barentsburg in 2021, and is now actively working against the Russian propaganda machine. He claims there was not much publicity and pathos attached to the commemoration.
He further describes this year’s review as “presumptuous and very loud”.
Leaf Blossoms: In connection with the ceremony, flowers are placed outside Barentsburg. Photo: Instagram / Trust Arktikugol screenshot
Show more
Rogozin, who now lives on mainland Norway, says that previous V-Day celebrations — when he lived in the city — were relatively quiet for him. There had been concerts in the previous days, and flower laying with Norwegian actors from Longyearbyen.
– I feel that Russians are celebrating May 9 much stronger and louder now. As if to challenge the world. It’s crazy.
The day is compared to last year’s commemoration of the Russian Navy.
– It was the same stupid show. At the same time that Ukraine was being bombed. It would be like partying during the plague.
Russia with Svalbard charges
– it was unforgettable
Director of the mining company Trust Arktikugol, Ildar Neverovtold Dagbladet that it was the 78th Victory Day celebration in Barentsburg.
– But we decided to make the day unforgettable. It certainly was. It’s a sacred ceremony for us, he tells Dagbladet.
When asked about the new elements of the celebration this year, he replied:
– Good day!
Otherwise, Neverov points to the company’s official Instagram account. There, in addition to posting videos from the show, they also posted photos of them laying wreaths for the “battles in Spitsbergen”. They were placed at a short distance from the settlement. On the way to the site, the Russians marched with large Russian flags.
Russians will be banned: reported threats
– more weight
Andreas Ostagen, senior research fellow at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, points out that the reason for the celebration is clear: They want to show solidarity with Russia.
– But of course the branding gains more weight when Russia is at war with Ukraine.
When Dagbladet spoke to him, he had not seen the photos from the memory.
Refers to the intelligence threat
At the same time, Barentsburg is a Russian city, and it is run by a Russian state-owned company. Thus, one should not exaggerate the importance of hashtags, Ostagin believes.
Barentsburg has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, then Disclosure of NRK That the consul in Barentsburg, Andrei Chimerillo, has a connection with the Russian military intelligence service.
Consul and Director: Consul in Barentsburg, Andrei Chemerilo (TV) and Director of Trust Arktikugol, Ildar Neverov. Photo: Instagram / Trust Arktikugol screenshot
Show more
– Although many may have known about this before, it sheds light on Russian activity in Barentsburg. Then maybe it’s a little strange that they would choose to stage such a ‘big’ celebration – since it’s already quite a big one, he says and adds:
– It is strange to raise the flag so high, given the tense situation. At the same time, this is probably exactly why they do it.