The warning is active from March 11 to 13.
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 February 24 to 26.
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 March 9, 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 March 21.
Located in Kirkenes, Norway, just a few kilometres from the borders to Russia and Finland, the Barents Observer is dedicated to cross-border journalism in Scandinavia, Russia and the wider Arctic.
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