Norwegian military experts confirms to NRK that the 3,6 meter long device is a Russian spy buoy for monitoring of ship traffic. According to the broadcaster, the device appears to be relatively new.
The buoy is not the first one drifting ashore on the Norwegian side of the border. Last year, a similar buoy was found near Berlevåg on the Barents Sea coast, a reader of NRK.no informs. According to Vesterålen Online, another buoy was found at Andøya in winter 2008.