Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Norway’s Charge d’Affaires in Moscow, Bjorn Svenungsen, on Tuesday and lodged a strong protest over the continued seizure of Russian movable and immovable property at the request of Ukrainian companies.

The ministry said the Russian research vessel Professor Molchanov remained detained at the port of Barentsburg in the Svalbard archipelago after a Norwegian court ordered its seizure on September 2 at the request of Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz and several Ukrainian enterprises, The Caspian Post reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

It noted that the District Court of North Troms and Senja rejected an appeal filed by Russian state-owned company Arktikugol Trust on October 28, adding that further legal proceedings could take several months.

"Attention was drawn to the fact that a prolonged winter stay of a vessel not designed for such conditions, given the harsh Arctic climate and weather, could result in its breakdown and serious environmental consequences," the ministry said.

Moscow called on Oslo to comply unconditionally with international law, including the provisions of the Svalbard Treaty, which guarantees citizens of signatory countries freedom of access to the archipelago.

The ministry said the vessel's detention had significantly restricted access to the archipelago. It added that, following Norway's restrictions on Russia and the subsequent suspension of air links between Russia and Svalbard, the Professor Molchanov had become the only means of directly transporting Russian personnel and essential supplies to the territory.

The ministry also reported that a Norwegian court seized five Russian properties in Oslo on September 22.

It urged Norway to comply with international law, including the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 2004 UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property.

"Russia's Foreign Ministry and competent Russian agencies will continue efforts to secure the lifting of the seizures of Russian property," it said.

Russia's consul general in Svalbard is providing consular and other assistance to the crew members remaining aboard the vessel, the ministry added.