From Secret Agent to Sea Darling: The Russian Spy Whale That Stole Hearts.
In 2019, a beluga whale made headlines when it was found off the coast of Norway, wearing a harness with the label “Equipment of St. Petersburg” and acting unusually friendly toward humans. Nicknamed “Hvaldimir” by locals (a playful mix of “hval,” Norwegian for whale, and “Vladimir,” likely a nod to Russian President Vladimir Putin), this…