Key facts
- EU countries paid an estimated 5.96 billion euros for Russian Yamal LNG in the first half of 2026.
- France, Belgium, and Spain were the primary destinations for these LNG cargoes.
- 136 out of 140 Yamal LNG cargoes shipped in the period arrived in European ports.
- This represents a 16% volume increase compared to the first half of 2025.
- The EU plans a complete ban on Russian LNG imports starting January 2027.
The European Union continued to be the primary destination for Russia's Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the first half of 2026, despite ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy and cut off Moscow's wartime revenue streams. EU countries paid an estimated 5.96 billion euros ($6.82 billion) for Yamal LNG cargoes during this period, with the majority arriving in France, Belgium, and Spain, according to a report by the environmental and sanctions-monitoring NGO Urgewald, citing data from Kpler.
Yamal LNG, a major project located on Russia's Arctic Yamal Peninsula, accounts for over 60% of the country's total LNG exports. In the first six months of 2026, European ports received 136 out of 140 Yamal LNG cargoes shipped globally. This influx represented a 16% increase in volume compared to the same period in the previous year. In stark contrast, only four cargoes were sent to China, a close ally of Russia.
This continued reliance on Russian LNG comes as the EU prepares to implement a comprehensive ban on all Russian LNG imports in January 2027. Sebastian Rotters, a sanctions campaigner at Urgewald, criticized the situation, stating that the EU is still supporting Russia's Arctic LNG sector five years into the war against Ukraine. He highlighted that these purchases occur while Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure and civilian sites.