A Russian research vessel, two sanctioned weapons transport ships, and synchronized AIS manipulation near a nuclear submarine base walk into a bar…

In June 2025, three vessels exhibited synchronized AIS manipulation at Severodvinsk, Russia's nuclear submarine construction hub. The Russian-flaggged Professor Molchanov (IMO: 8010348), a research and tourism vessel owned by Roshydromet (Russian government hydrometeorological service) returning from a trip to Barentsburg and Pyramiden, alongside the Taimyr (IMO: 8821797) and Kapitan Yakovlev (IMO: 9077575), both sanctioned by the US and Ukraine in May 2022 for transporting Russian weapons (and Yakovlev for grain). All three were seen broadcasting suspiciously manipulated AIS positions over the Northern Dvina River between Arkhangelsk's port and Severodvinsk's submarine base, potentially masking military logistics movements.

*Professor Molchanov vessel tracks in Barentsburg on its ‘tourism’ voyage June 2025*

*All three vessels are seen displaying ID manipulation behavior over the Northern Dvina River at the same time in June 2025.*

Three months later, the Kapitan Yakovlev docked at Barentsburg in September 2025. The Taimyr arrived in December and by then Professor Molchanov had already made several "tourist" voyages there between June and October, and according to TASS they were delivering supplies to Barentsburg, Pyramiden, and Franz Josef Land.

*Professor Molchanov vessel tracks also seen at Pyramiden, Teriberka, and Hayes Island*

So what are these places, and why do they require visits by vessels sanctioned for weapons transportation?

Barentsburg:

Russian coal mine on Norwegian Svalbard now being used as a tourism hub for Russia through company Arktikugol. Arktikugol co-organizes these trips with Morskaya Praktika owned by Konstatin Popov. Barentsburg is unique because it is a community near a strategic NATO territory. Russians fly their flag and hold military-style parades there which defies the Svalbard Treaty Article 9 which states:
Norway must ensure that no fortifications or naval bases are established. Svalbard may never be used for warlike purposes. Norwegian military presence in Svalbard is kept to an absolute minimum; it consists mainly of coast guard patrols. Foreign military activity is not welcome.

Pyramiden:

Soviet coal mine officially abandoned since 1998, but maintained by helicopter and regular supply deliveries by Arktikugol. Trust Arktikugol owns and operates both Barentsburg and Pyramiden settlements.

Franz Josef Land:

Hayes Island, located in the Franz Josef Land archipelago, houses a civilian meteorological station Krenkel meteorological station connecting civilian logistics to nearby military facilities. Arctic Trefoil (Arkticheskiy Trilistnik) Military Base is Russia's most northern military base, located on Alexandra Land, an island in the same archipelago as Hayes Island.

Teriberka:

A Fishing village with no real port infrastructure or customs which may be used to break chain of custody. This is a pattern noted by investigators as a method of concealing the origin of a shipment. This is especially notable because the example case linked is about masking metallurgical coke via this method

Arktikugol director Ildar Neverov, dressed in Soviet uniform, disembarking Professor Molchanov / The Barents Observer

So What Does it All Mean?

Vessel data from Marine Traffic suggests Russia may be operating something more coordinated than tourism and simple supply delivery. When sanctioned weapon delivery ships and a research vessel service a coal mine, an abandoned settlement, a village with no port, and an island with weather stations and military facilities, followed by likely synchronized AIS manipulation near a nuclear submarine base, it’s worth a second look.

Next, we will dig into the entities behind these vessels and the coal mines including Arktikugol, TC Nord Project LLC, Northern Shipping Company, and Roshydromet.

Be Mine: Tracking the Vessels in Russia's Barentsburg Cover Operation

So what are these places, and why do they require visits by vessels sanctioned for weapons transportation?

So What Does it All Mean?

Russia's Little Red Men: The Shadow Fleet Spies Nobody’s Looking For