Victoria Klesty and Gwladys Fischer

KIRKENES Norway (Reuters) – Kirkenes is a Norwegian city that lies just a stone’s throw away Russia. For over 30 years, it was a symbol for cross-border harmony and peace in the Arctic. This was all overthrown by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. People have since been adapting to new realities.

One possibility is that Finland may join NATO with its neighbor Finland, and the Finnish President Sauli Niinisto expects to state on Thursday that it should apply to NATO.

Even though Norway is exempt from the international sanctions, these companies seek to lessen their dependence upon Russia.

Kirkenes residents have the right to enter Russia by obtaining a permit that is non-restrictive. Russians are allowed to work and reside in Kirkenes. There are 400 Russians among the 3,500 inhabitants of this town. There are 30 Ukrainians.

Lene Norii Bergeng stated that after the Russian invasion Ukraine, Feb. 24, many have experienced grief, anger, and frustration.

Mayor of Soer-Varanger, which also includes Kirkenes.

It has been an incredible time. After many years of peace, our neighbour now wants to go to war against one of its neighbors. She said that it had affected all of us from her office on the same square with the Russian consulate.

The Russian border can be reached from Kirkenes in 15 minutes, while Finland is only 50 minutes. They are both closer to the Norwegian neighbor.

Norum Bergeng said that Finland must decide if they would like to be a NATO member. “If they choose to join NATO, then we should accept them.” It is an honor to be a NATO member.

GRAPHIC: Map of Kirkenes, Norway https://graphics.reuters.com/UKRAINE-CRISIS/NORDICS-NATO/mopanozmqva/chart.png

LIVING TOGETHER

To welcome Russians, street signs were made in Russian and Norwegian decades ago. Mayor said that there’s a petition to get them removed, although not enough people have signed it yet.

Reuters talked to Russians in Russia who stated that they feel as welcomed as ever after the invasion.

Gleb Karinov, 43 years old, stated that “I’ve had no problems” during his break at work in the Kimek shipyard.

A Ukrainian refugee from Ukraine who came to Kirkenes last April also said that the Russians were “very kind”.

“They don’t seem aggressive. Katerina, 27, who is a teacher fled Luhansk’s eastern region with Arena, her 2-year-old daughter, and now lives in the United States with her aunt.

Many are finding new meanings in their work. Evgeny Gman is a Russian theatre director who moved to Kirkenes in January. He works with exile Russian artists to show different views of Russia.

The 42-year old said, “With the beginning of the war we really understood why art is important…why it can be a powerful tool,” at the gallery, which houses the regional Collective of Curators, Girls on the Bridge.

ECONOMIC HIT

The CEO of the Kimek Shipyard worries that his 80 employees will be lost to Russian employers. Last year, 70% of the company’s revenues came from Russian ships.

Non-EU Norway may have applied the majority of international sanctions against Russia, but it has not closed its ports for Russian fishing vessels. This is a crucial safety net for Arctic Norway ports like Kirkenes.

Mannsverk said that Norway would have sanctioned half of the staff at the shipyard if Mannsverk had not applied this particular penalty. Kimek’s Murmansk facility continues to function independently of the Kirkenes main facility.

I am hoping for the day when Russian clients will not be the main ones. He said that the current percentage is 70% and suggested it could be increased to 20% in the underground yard, where a Russian trawler was being prepared.

Is cross-border collaboration likely to resume at its full potential in the near future? Jonas Gahr Stoere (Norwegian Prime Minister) is hopeful that it will.

During a recent visit to the village, he stated that “there will be a time after,” but he didn’t know exactly when. I believe the spirit of this community is that boundaries should be respected but contacts should be made. “We have to learn from it.”