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The last bus route between Norway and Russia

Gunnar Köhne in Kirkenes, Norway
January 12, 2025

Even though Norway's border to Russia is officially closed, a small bus is still allowed to cross, driving from Norway's Kirkenes to the Russian town of Murmansk once a day.

https://p.dw.com/p/4onha

Kirkenes, a city on the northern tip of Norway, is the last place in Europe where people can directly cross into Russia.

The trip involves taking a silver Mercedes transport bus, the only vehicle allowed to cross the border from Kirkenes to Murmansk in northwestern Russia. The bus makes the trip once daily, costing €50 per person.

The bus route is the only way for many to visit family in Russia amid frigid ties between Europe and Moscow over the Ukraine war.

Discover what life is like in Kirkenes and for the Russian exiles there.