Russia is forming a new "shadow fleet" to circumvent EU sanctions on gas - intelligence
Kyiv • UNN
Russia has begun forming an additional "shadow fleet" to transport liquefied natural gas in order to bypass future EU sanctions that will take effect on January 1, 2027. Over the past five months, six old gas carrier tankers have entered the Russian market.
The Russian Federation has begun forming another "shadow fleet" to transport liquefied natural gas in order to circumvent future EU sanctions. These sanctions will take effect on January 1, 2027, reports UNN citing the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
Details
These new measures will completely block access for Russian vessels to European terminals. This step forces Moscow to seek alternative routes in order to maintain current gas export volumes and state budget funding at any cost, the FISU stated.
Russia uses anonymous structures and convoluted ownership chains to purchase old tankers worldwide. Over the past five months, six old gas carrier tankers have entered the Russian market. Moreover, from February 2024 to May 2025, seven similar vessels have already been acquired through shell companies
The intelligence service also added that the total size of the Russian Federation's "shadow LNG fleet" has now increased to approximately 23 units.
Recall
Senator from the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region and former head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, proposed mining the tankers of the "shadow fleet".