Russia prepares for the end of EU purchases of its LNG

The European Union's ban on imports of Russian LNG takes effect on 1 January 2027, followed on 1 October 2027 by a ban on Russian pipeline gas. In response, Russia is building a shadow fleet of LNG carriers that will let it circumvent, at least in part, European sanctions. Output from the Yamal and Arctic LNG 2 terminals was largely destined for the European market. Russia's shadow oil-tanker fleet now numbers 1,000 vessels. Shipping LNG is more complex, but the parallel logistics Moscow has devised — flags of convenience, ship-to-ship LNG transfers — should gradually allow Russia to blunt the impact of the EU sanctions.