Russian ‘Spy Whale’ Hvaldimir Discovered Dead Near Norway

A beluga whale suspected of being used for Russian espionage after its discovery in Norwegian waters five years ago has been found dead, according to the non-profit organization that had been monitoring it.

The whale, named Hvaldimir—a blend of the Norwegian word for “whale” and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin—was discovered floating in the sea by a father and son fishing in southern Norway over the weekend, as reported by the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.

“Hvaldimir was not just a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world,” the Marine Mind NGO said on social media.

Hvaldimir first gained attention in 2019 near the island of Ingoya in northern Norway, around 300 kilometers from the Russian maritime border, when he was found wearing a harness with what appeared to be a mount for a small camera. The harness bore the inscription “Equipment St Petersburg” in English.

The whale’s friendly behavior and responsiveness to hand signals led Norway’s domestic intelligence agency to believe that he had been held in captivity in Russia as part of a research program before crossing into Norwegian waters.

Moscow has never responded to the allegations regarding Hvaldimir.

“It’s absolutely horrible,” marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who worked with Marine Mind, told NRK. “He was apparently in good condition as of Friday, so we just have to figure out what might have happened here.”

No major external injuries were visible on the animal, and the cause of death remains unclear, he added.