Activists Claim Legendary Russian ‘Spy’ Whale Was Shot Dead

Warning: This article contains images of the whale’s injuries.

The death of a beloved beluga whale in Norway suspected to have once been used as a Russian spy was no accident, local animal rights organizations claimed Wednesday.

Hvaldimir—whose name was a portmanteau of “hval”, the Norwegian word for whale, and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin—first appeared in the nordic nation’s waters in 2019, wearing what appeared to be a harness for a camera bearing the words “Equipment St. Petersburg.” The intriguing creature became a source of international attention and was known for his friendly interactions with humans before he was found dead close to Risavika in southwestern Norway on Saturday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.