The story of Hvaldimir, the beluga whale found off Norway wearing a harness in 2019, has taken a new turn. Marine scientist Dr. Olga Shpak asserts that the whale likely escaped from a Russian military program designed to train it for guarding tasks, rather than espionage. Initially thought to be a ‘spy whale’, Hvaldimir garnered attention for its tameness and unusual behavior. Although Russia has not confirmed the military ties, experts suggest that Hvaldimir was known among Russian marine mammal trainers as Andruha, highlighting potential connections to military operations. A BBC documentary further explores this intriguing tale.