Russian 'spy whale' Hvaldimir found dead near Norway

A beluga whale that was suspected of spying for Russia after being discovered in Norwegian waters five years ago has been found dead, according to the non-profit organisation that had been monitoring the whale. The body of Hvaldimir — a combination of the Norwegian word for whale and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin — was spotted floating in the sea by a father and son fishing in southern Norway over the weekend, Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported. "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 was wearing a harness with what appeared to be a mount for a small camera when he was first found in 2019 near the island of Ingoya in Norway's north, around 300km from the Russian maritime border. The harness was stamped with "Equipment St Petersburg" in English.

Russian 'spy whale' Hvaldimir found dead near Norway

Russian 'spy whale' Hvaldimir found dead near Norway

Russian 'spy whale' Hvaldimir found dead near Norway

Russian 'spy whale' Hvaldimir found dead near Norway

Russian 'spy whale' Hvaldimir found dead near Norway