During the Cold War , the Soviet Union retained about two-thirds of the population on the islands ( with a third being Norwegians ) with the archipelago 's population slightly under 4,000 . Russian activity has diminished considerably since then , falling from 2,500 to 450 people from 1990 to 2010 . Grumant was closed after it was depleted in 1962 . Pyramiden was closed in 1998 . Coal exports from Barentsburg ceased in 2006 because of a fire , but resumed in 2010 . The Russian community has also experienced two air accidents , Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801 , which killed 141 people , and the Heerodden helicopter accident
Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801
Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801
Svalbard