ALBAWABA - Russia is expanding its shadow fleet network in anticipation of the total and complete European ban on Russian oil and gas exports to the continent coming into effect on 1 January, 2027.
The flagships of the fleet in question are Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) tankers and, over the past six months, at least eight of these tankers were sold and redirected to serve Russian oil exports bringing the shadow fleet LNGs to a total of 25 ships, including two new ones built by Russia’s Zvezda shipyard.
Russia’s total number of shadow fleet vessels has exceeded 1,000 as the ships continue operating outside Western insurance and regulatory frameworks.
In the first half of 2026, Europe purchased nearly all output of Russia’s Yamal LNG facility in Siberia, now a total ban on these oil imports into Europe will take place in 2027, made in an effort to limit fossil fuel revenues that fund Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to the 25 vessels, four additional LNG tankers are under construction at the Zvezda shipyard while six completed vessels remain sanction blocked at South Korea’s Hanwha shipyard.
European companies that violate these bans and sanctions after 1 January, 2027 risk facing fines of up to 3.5% of their total annual global turnover.
