EU Russian LNG imports rise despite energy security concerns
Despite European efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy, EU imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose by 14 percent in June 2026 compared to the previous year. This increase has significantly bolstered Moscow's revenue, which reached approximately €60 million per day from LNG sales. France emerged as the primary purchaser, with the port of Montoir in Brittany receiving four times more volume in June than it did in May.
According to data from the think tank Bruegel, Russian gas accounted for 13.4 percent of the EU's total gas imports during the second quarter of 2026. This trend persists even as the EU aims to phase out all Russian LNG imports by 2027.
Concurrently, energy security concerns are mounting in Germany, where gas storage levels have dropped to approximately 48 percent. This level is notably lower than historical averages for this period. Experts warn that these low reserves, combined with market volatility caused by the Iran-Russia conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, could lead to significant price spikes and supply risks during the upcoming winter.
Entities: Bruegel · Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air · Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) · European Union · France · France · Germany · Russia · Russia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 6 SOURCES] EU member states imported 14 percent more Russian LNG in June 2026 than in June 2025. (Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA))
- [● 4 SOURCES] Russian gas accounted for 13.4 percent of total EU gas imports in the second quarter of 2026. (Bruegel)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Moscow earned approximately €60 million per day from Russian LNG sales in June 2026. (CREA)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Iran‑Russia conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have reduced LNG shipments through the strait, tightening the global LNG market. (Context provided in articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] France was the largest buyer of Russian LNG, with the Montoir port receiving four times more in June 2026 than in May 2026. (CREA)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The EU plans to stop all imports of Russian LNG by 2027. (EU policy statements referenced in articles)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The Iran-Russia conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have reduced global LNG availability and increased gas prices. (Unspecified)
- [DISPUTED] German gas storage levels reached approximately 48 percent in August 2026, which is below the historical average. (Unspecified)