Tensions Over the Ukraine War Deepen the Chill Near the North Pole

On Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago located between mainland Norway and the North Pole, it has long been a point of pride to distinguish people from governments. Russians, Ukrainians and Norwegians have lived side by side for decades in this isolated and extreme wilderness known mostly for polar bears and a rapidly warming climate, not for divisive politics.

But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has echoed at the top of the world, threatening longstanding personal and professional relationships, cultural interactions and even friendly sports rivalries.

The Svalbard tourist board has called for a boycott of Russian state-owned businesses in the coal mining settlement of Barentsburg.

Sergey Gushchin, the Russian consul general, used to be considered an inclusive, moderating figure. But he has angered many with comments concerning the Russian invasion and an accusation that Norwegian news media provide mostly “fake news.” Read more

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