Orten and his crew of five said the 163-meter warship then barreled toward their 15-meter fishing boat, blowing its horn and firing a warning shot that exploded in the water near their vessel. “It was a powerful blast, our boat was shaking,” Orten said, adding they quickly sailed a safe distance away.
A spokesperson for the Norwegian Joint Headquarters confirmed to local media that a radio conversation took place between the Russian warship and the Norwegian fishing vessel but said it did not observe the warning shot.
The incident occurred in Norway’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Barents Sea, which is divided between Norway and Russia. The Kremlin has in recent years conducted military drills and missile launches inside Norway’s EEZ, angering Norwegian fishermen in the area.
Russia’s foreign minister warned last week that Moscow was “fully ready to defend its interests” in the Arctic.