The EU paid approximately €7.88 billion for liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Yamal Arctic project during the first nine months of 2026, according to figures compiled by the campaign group Urgewald. The purchases highlight the difficulty of ending Russian energy imports before the bloc’s full LNG ban takes effect in 2027.
Urgewald analysed shipping and market data from Kpler, which recorded 12.18 million tonnes of Russian LNG arriving at European ports between January and September. The findings come as the European Union seeks to reduce its energy dependence on Moscow while Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.
EU LNG imports from Russia reached a record level
European deliveries from the Yamal LNG project increased by 9.5% compared with the same period in 2025. EU ports received around 85% of the project’s recorded shipments, underlining the continuing importance of Europe as a destination for Russian Arctic gas.
France handled the largest share of EU deliveries in September. The ports of Dunkirk and Montoir received a combined 571,716 tonnes, according to Kpler data cited by Urgewald. The Netherlands imported 146,461 tonnes, while Portugal received 74,263 tonnes. No September cargoes were recorded at Spanish ports or Belgium’s Zeebrugge terminal.
The figures do not show that every shipment was purchased directly by national governments. LNG can be bought by commercial energy companies and delivered through national ports before entering the wider European gas market. However, the data demonstrate that Russian gas is still reaching EU infrastructure on a substantial scale.
Why Russian LNG imports are continuing
The EU has introduced restrictions intended to reduce Russian energy imports, but the measures have been phased in rather than imposed as an immediate stop to all trade.
- Restrictions on new Russian energy contracts were introduced at the beginning of 2026.
- A ban covering imports under existing short-term contracts took effect on 25 April.
- A wider prohibition on Russian LNG covered by eligible existing long-term contracts is scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027.
September deliveries reached about 792,440 tonnes, slightly above the level recorded a year earlier. That suggests the first restrictions have not yet removed Russian LNG from European supply chains, particularly where long-term contractual arrangements remain in place.
Urgewald energy campaigner Sebastian Rötters said the limited effect of early measures had been expected because much of the export capacity is tied to long-term contracts. Seasonal maintenance and the movement of some cargoes towards Asia through the Northern Sea Route also affect monthly volumes.
EU sanctions pressure focuses on Arctic shipping
Urgewald is calling for the EU’s proposed 22nd sanctions package to address what it describes as remaining loopholes around the transport of Arctic LNG. The Yamal project depends on Arc7 ice-class tankers, which are designed to operate in difficult Arctic conditions.
The organisation argues that restrictions affecting specialised vessels and related maritime services could make it harder for the project to maintain exports. European ports are also geographically convenient for Yamal cargoes because tankers can unload and return to the Arctic production site relatively quickly.
Any additional sanctions would require political agreement among EU member states. Governments would also have to weigh the effect on gas procurement, particularly before the 2027 import ban is fully applied and during periods of heightened winter demand.
US sanctions could affect deliveries before 2027
Another uncertainty comes from powers granted to the United States under the law referred to in the source material as the Lindsey Graham Act. The US administration faces an 18 October deadline for an initial review and is expected to identify ships transporting Russian LNG. The deadline does not automatically create a ban on Yamal deliveries, however, because the practical effect depends on how the administration uses its sanctioning powers and whether waivers are issued.
That creates a period in which European imports could be affected by US decisions before the EU’s own full prohibition begins. Previous US measures have placed significant pressure on Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project and on activity linked to the Northern Sea Route, while Yamal LNG has continued supplying European buyers.
What does the LNG trade mean for Europe’s energy security?
The data show a tension at the centre of EU energy policy. Brussels is seeking to end its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, but the transition must take place while the bloc manages storage levels, winter demand and competition for alternative LNG supplies.
The available figures do not establish how much Russian LNG could be redirected to other buyers if European access were restricted. They also do not quantify the effect on European gas prices. Any impact would depend on factors including weather, storage, pipeline flows, global LNG availability and demand in Asia.
In September, Kpler recorded 706,473 tonnes of Yamal LNG destined for China, South Korea and Taiwan. That indicates the project already has markets beyond Europe, although changes to shipping routes, insurance, tanker availability and sanctions could influence where future cargoes are delivered.
What happens next?
The immediate focus will be on the US review deadline and on negotiations over any future EU sanctions package. The more significant policy test will come on 1 January 2027, when the EU’s broader ban on Russian LNG under eligible long-term contracts is scheduled to take effect.
Until then, European companies may continue receiving Russian LNG under arrangements that remain legally permitted. The current figures therefore represent the gap between the EU’s long-term energy strategy and the commercial contracts and infrastructure still supporting imports.
The key takeaway from this EU news is that the bloc’s Russian LNG phase-out is not yet complete. The €7.88 billion paid during the first nine months of 2026 shows that the outcome will depend not only on the future ban, but also on sanctions enforcement, shipping access and Europe’s ability to secure replacement supplies.
