Norway has seized the Russian-owned expedition cruise vessel Professor Molchanov in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. The detention occurred after a Norwegian court ordered the ship's arrest.
The seizure is part of an effort by the Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz to recover $4.22 billion. This compensation award follows the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the seizure of Naftogaz assets by Russia.
Naftogaz is currently hunting for Russian assets worldwide to collect on the arbitration award. Moscow has challenged Norway's action, calling the seizure of the vessel an act of piracy.