- Sputnik International, 1920, 25.02.2022
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
On February 24, 2022 Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev's forces.

Norway Considers Sending Heavy Arms to Ukraine, Supports Neighbours' NATO Bid

© AFP 2023 / Kyrre LienFemale soldiers talk next to a CV90 combat vehicle at the armored battalion in Setermoen, northern Norway on August 11, 2016. Norway has become the first NATO member to have compulsory conscription for women as well as men in the army. Recently, the first batch of army recruits joined the ranks in The Armored Battalion in the Norwegian Army located in Setermoen in northern Norway.
Female soldiers talk next to a CV90 combat vehicle at the armored battalion in Setermoen, northern Norway on August 11, 2016. Norway has become the first NATO member to have compulsory conscription for women as well as men in the army. Recently, the first batch of army recruits joined the ranks in The Armored Battalion in the Norwegian Army located in Setermoen in northern Norway.  - Sputnik International, 1920, 27.04.2022
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Whereas Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described donating arms to a warring party as a “new experience” for the country, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine “pouring oil on the fire”, warning that the shipments would become a “legitimate target” for Russian forces.
Assessments are being made of sending heavier weapons to Ukraine, in addition to those already dispatched, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has announced in parliament.
According to Støre, Norway's previous arms deliveries have arrived in Ukraine. Among other things, Norway has donated 4,000 M72 type anti-aircraft missiles and around 100 Mistral anti-aircraft missiles.
While describing donating arms to a warring country as “a new experience for Norway”, Støre suggested that in the future Ukraine will need heavier and more advanced weapon systems.

“Further direct donations of heavier weapons from Norway to Ukraine are for ongoing assessment and implementation. For safety reasons, we do not discuss such support publicly until the deliveries are in place,” Støre said, as quoted by the newspaper Dagbladet.

The Norwegian government also pledged to allocate NOK 400 million ($43 million) to a UK-led fund for the purchase of weapons and military equipment for Ukraine.
“This gives Norway the opportunity to support Ukraine with materiel that the Norwegian defence itself does not have, or which would weaken Norwegian defence capabilities,” Støre said.
Støre also suggested that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has repercussions for the security situation in Norway's immediate vicinity, and that Finnish and Swedish NATO membership is a very relevant topic.

“There are rapid, but thorough processes in both our two neighbouring countries, to prepare for what could be epoch-making changes for Nordic and European security policy,” Støre said, stressing “close and ongoing contacts with the two countries”. “Our message has been clear: Should they decide on NATO membership, they will have Norway's full support.”

Crew members of Norwegian minesweeper Otra salute after a briefing of NATO Allied Maritime Command Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Commodore Arian Minderhoud, right, of the Royal Netherlands Navy before setting sail together in a convoy of five ships of Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and Estonia from Kiel, Germany, Tuesday, April 22, 2014 - Sputnik International, 1920, 21.04.2022
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
Norway Sends Ukraine 100 Anti-Aircraft Missiles Originally Slated for Scrapping
Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February, with the idea to "demilitarise and de-Nazify" the country, which has long pursued membership in the NATO alliance. Even before Kiev intensified its eight-year-long war against the Russian-speaking breakaway republics of the Donbass region following months of failed negotiations, Moscow insisted that any move by Ukraine to join NATO, or the alliance positioning offensive arms in Ukraine near the Russian border, would be seen as crossing a 'red line'.
Since the start of the conflict, Ukraine has enjoyed increasing arms deliveries from across the Western world, ranging from its immediate neighbours such as Poland to distant nations like Australia and Canada. Following pressure from abroad and within, Germany recently announced it would send tanks to Ukraine in a major U-turn by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Commenting on Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has described them as “pouring oil on the fire”. He also warned that NATO is “in essence at war” with Moscow, adding that the shipments to Kiev would be a “legitimate target” for Russian forces.
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