Russia Builds Secret Gas Fleet to Bypass EU Ban

Russia has been quietly expanding its fleet of specialized gas tankers to ensure its liquefied natural gas exports continue to flow despite the European Union's impending ban on Russian imports.

The country has acquired at least eight secondhand LNG carriers over the past six months, bringing Moscow's dedicated gas fleet to 25 vessels. Two newly built carriers from Russia's Zvezda shipyard have also been added to the fleet.

The expansion mirrors Russia's tactics in keeping oil flowing through its 'dark fleet' of more than 1,000 tankers operating outside Western insurance and regulatory systems.

Four of the newly acquired carriers have already loaded fuel at a facility linked to sanctioned gas, raising questions about the role of third-country ports in sanctions circumvention.