Russia's Shadow LNG Fleet Grows as EU Ban Looms

Russia is rapidly expanding its shadow fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers as it prepares for the European Union's planned ban on Russian LNG imports. According to Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, Moscow is attempting to build up its own fleet of vessels that could keep its LNG exports moving despite the restrictions.

The EU embargo is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and Russia is turning to older vessels that international companies are already retiring. Over the past six months, Russia has added at least eight second-hand LNG carriers and two newly built vessels from the Zvezda shipyard. The agency estimates that Russia's shadow LNG fleet has reached 25 vessels in 2026.

Most of these ships are reportedly registered through intermediary companies based in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. This ownership structure can make it harder to establish the vessels' links to Russia and potentially allow Moscow to continue transporting LNG while attempting to circumvent sanctions and restrictions.