The Russian Embassy has confirmed the formation of a Norwegian military brigade at the border.

Norway, by announcing the formation of a military brigade in the border area with Russia, creates additional risks for the security of the region in the Arctic. This was announced on August 22 by the Russian Embassy in the Scandinavian country.

"Indeed, on August 20, the Finnmark operational command stationed in the North Norwegian province bordering our country was officially transformed into the brigade of the Norwegian Armed Forces of the same name, the formation of which is scheduled to be completed by 2032," RIA Novosti quoted a comment.

The diplomats added that the Norwegian authorities' increased military presence near the common border, as well as the deployment of forces from other NATO countries to the Arctic, are accompanied by empty assurances from Oslo about its alleged commitment to maintaining low tension in high latitudes. All this is explained by the actively propagated myth of a supposedly "more dangerous and unpredictable Russia."

"Strengthening the military, including strike, capabilities of Norway and other NATO countries in the immediate vicinity of strategically important Russian facilities and capabilities on the Kola Peninsula certainly poses threats to our national security. Taking adequate military-technical retaliatory measures falls within the competence of the Russian Ministry of Defense and is duly taken into account in military planning," the embassy stressed.

The Norwegian Ministry of Defense on Thursday, August 21, announced the formation of a new military brigade on the border with the Russian Federation "against the background of an unstable security situation."

"Russia is interested in constructive cooperation with Norway in Svalbard"

Russian Ambassador to Oslo Nikolai Korchunov — on the role of the archipelago and NATO's activity in the Arctic

On August 11, the NATO Aviation Command noted that three B-1B Lancer strategic bombers of the US Air Force arrived at Erland Air Base in Norway, located near the border with the Russian Federation. It was noted that long-range bombers will carry out a number of missions under the leadership of NATO countries together with Norwegian F-35 fighters and other aircraft of the alliance.

After that, on August 13, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Press (DIP) Russian Foreign Minister Alexei Fadeev pointed out that Norway is stepping up efforts to strengthen sovereignty over Svalbard in violation of the treaty and to the detriment of Russia's interests. Fadeev stressed that with its provocative actions, Oslo is whipping up an atmosphere of confrontation around the archipelago.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.