The distribution areas of European and Rainbow smelts overlap in North-Eastern part of Europe. Interrelation of these species is not well studied in this zone. A smelt from the Krivoye Lake of the Kolguyev Island of the Barents Sea was studied. Species identification was fulfilled by DNA-Barcoding method, the sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was used. The smelt turned out to be European one. The evidences on its origin were analyzed. It was shown, that the smelt settled in the lake in the remote past, when the territory of the island belonged to mainland and its inland water bodies were linked with Pechora river basin. Recent transportation of smelt by humans or birds to the Kolguyev Island is unlikely. Restriction of distribution area of this species is likely to be related with historic factors and competition with Rainbow smelt.