Norwegian police have arrested the son of Vladimir Yakunin, a close friend of Putin. Andrei Yakunin has admitted illegally flying a drone over Norway’s Arctic archipelago Spitsbergen. His arrest is the seventh Russian citizen within days.
The Russians are accused of illegally using unmanned aerial vehicles or taking pictures without permission. Andrei Yakunin, son of former Russian railway chief and Putin confidant Vladimir Yakunin, is alleged to have illegally piloted a drone over the Norwegian archipelago of Spitsbergen in the Arctic. He is currently in custody, according to a police representative. Drones and other electronic devices were seized.
Drone flights near airports
There have been other drone flights near Norwegian airports, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Störe told broadcaster NRK. A few hours earlier, a drone flight around Bergen airport had briefly disrupted air traffic.
In addition, drones have recently been sighted on energy infrastructure in Norway, including offshore oil and gas platforms. These reports and the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea have prompted the country to step up its security measures. Norway is now Europe’s largest gas supplier.
Spitsbergen is an archipelago where Russia mines coal. That is why a relatively large Russian community lives there.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
