Greenpeace Ukraine protesters tie a kayak to a Russian oil tanker

“I was shocked that Norway acts as a free port for Russian oil, the financial resources of which we know [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war.

Greenpeace said activists want a ban on Russian oil imports in Norway and for Esso, a US-based subsidiary of ExxonMobil, to “cancel its contracts to buy fossil fuels from Russia at this time of war.” The group also included members of Extinction Rebellion, a global network of climate change activists.

Extinction Rebellion activist Vibburn Pyland-Berg said in a statement made by a spokesperson for ESO that they claim to oppose the war in Ukraine, but their actions make them complicit in funding the Russian war machine and profiting from the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Norway separated, even Tomte.

Images from the scene show less than 10 activists perched in small boats next to the tanker and holding signs that read “fuel war” and “stop fueling war.”

Local TV station TV2 mentioned Up to 10 people were arrested in the incident. Tomati cited a higher figure, saying that 15 activists with his group and seven Greenpeace were arrested.

Greenpeace said in a statement that “peaceful work” is taking place in the Oslo Strait at the Esso-owned oil port of Slagentangen.

Richard Scriss, an ExxonMobil spokesperson, said the ISOs were honoring pre-war contracts and complying with the sanctions.

“We have not made any new purchases of Russian products since the invasion, and there are no plans for future purchases,” Scriss said in an emailed statement. “We support internationally coordinated efforts to end the unprovoked Russian offensive.”

Protest highlights Controversy over Russian oil in Europe. European countries rely heavily on Russia for their oil and gas needs, and have yet to impose a wholesale ban, even as activists say money from buying Russian oil and gas is funding the war in Ukraine.

Greenpeace said activists in kayak and canoe strapped themselves to the anchor chain of the ship, Ost Luga, to prevent it from offloading about 95,000 metric tons of oil at an oil terminal off the coast of Askardstrand, a coastal town south of Oslo. . The organization, which campaigns for environmental and other causes, estimated the ship’s cargo to be worth $116 million.

Ust Luga is Registered in Hong KongAccording to the Marine Traffic website. Greenpeace said the tanker is operated by Novatek, a major Russian natural gas producer.

According to Marine Traffic, the Ust Luga has been installed in the waters of southeastern Norway, near slagene oil station Owned by ExxonMobil’s Esso Norway. A tugboat was approaching him around 3:25 p.m. local time, and a law enforcement ship was nearby.

Greenpeace activists are best known for organizing colorful stunts to bring attention to the climate crisis, but the global nonprofit network also advocates for “global peace, disarmament, and nonviolence.”

Pleym seeks to draw attention to climate issues in addition to war. “During these two months of Russia’s aggressive war, we have seen horrific images and know the unimaginable suffering of the innocent civilian population of Ukraine,” said Plame. “The fact that our government still allows the import of Russian fossil fuels in the current situation is unfathomable.

“…the Ukrainian president called on Europe to stop Russian fossil fuels. And for good reason, Plame continued. Putin’s income sources should be dried up immediately and an oil import ban is a very good place to start. We need to stop this war.”

Myriam Berger contributed to this report.