Russia expands LNG shadow fleet to evade EU sanctions

Russia is enlarging a covert fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers to sidestep upcoming European Union sanctions that will ban Russian LNG imports from 2027. The fleet now includes at least 25 vessels, a mix of second‑hand tankers and new builds constructed at the Zvezda shipyard, such as the Kosmos, Orion, Merkuriy and Luch.

The move mirrors an earlier “shadow‑oil‑tanker” scheme and aims to keep Russian LNG flowing to Europe despite restrictions. In the first half of the year, the Yamal LNG plant supplied record volumes to the EU, with France importing 3.6 million tonnes, followed by Belgium (2.9 Mt) and Spain (2.7 Mt). EU officials have warned that naval assets could be deployed to interdict ships they deem part of the shadow fleet.

President Vladimir Putin, speaking to the State Duma, argued that Western sanctions have not collapsed the Russian economy and emphasized a long‑term strategy of deepening trade with Asian markets while developing domestic production capacity.