In order to investigate the physical and chemical processes in the cold winter stratosphere, we carried out a balloon compaign at ESRANGE in Kiruna in cooperation with Sweden, France, USA, New Zealand, and West Germany from January to February, 1989. Concentrations of ozone, NO_2,HNO_3,NO_y, and aerosol were measured on board the balloons launched by CNES from ESRANGE on January 23 and 30,1989. We also made ground based optical measurements of NO_2 and ozone. These observations show that the Arctic stratosphere in January was chemically perturbed by heterogeneous reactions.