FT: Russia expands LNG shadow fleet to 25 tankers ahead of 2027 EU ban
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Russia has added at least eight used LNG tankers to its shadow fleet over the past six months, bringing the total to 25 vessels, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. The expansion comes as Moscow prepares for a 2027 European Union ban on Russian LNG imports, using the same evasion tactics as its oil tanker shadow fleet.
The LNG Shadow Fleet
At least eight second-hand LNG tankers have joined Russia's shadow fleet in the past six months, raising the total to 25, according to Windward data cited by the FT. The fleet includes two new tankers built at Russia's Zvezda shipyard in the Far East. Four recently acquired tankers — Kosmos, Orion, Merkuriy, and Luch — already transported cargoes from terminals bypassing Western sanctions, as tracked by Kpler. The vessels, typically owned by Russia-linked front companies in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, disable transponders and conduct ship-to-ship transfers to obscure cargo origins. Moscow is mirroring the playbook it used for oil tankers to circumvent Western restrictions.
Europe's Push to Cut Russian Gas
The EU has been working to reduce reliance on Russian pipeline gas and diversify LNG imports since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2025, LNG accounted for 45% of the bloc's total natural gas imports, with the remainder via pipelines, per the European Commission. Despite these efforts, Russia remained the EU's second-largest LNG supplier in the first quarter of 2026, with Norway (31%), the US (28%), and Russia (14%) leading total gas supplies. Brussels aims to halt all Russian gas supplies by 2027, a plan it has repeatedly reaffirmed. Analysts at IEEFA project that by 2028 the EU could source 80% of its LNG imports from the US.
What's Next
The EU is expected to enforce its ban on Russian LNG imports in 2027, but the shadow fleet's growth suggests Moscow is preparing to maintain exports through non-transparent channels. It remains unclear whether tighter sanctions can be enforced against rapidly expanding evasion tactics.
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FT: Russia expands LNG shadow fleet to 25 tankers ahead of 2027 EU ban
