100% of Russian Arctic Yamal LNG exports flowed to the EU in February

● 100% of all Yamal LNG exports in February 2026 went to the EU, totalling 1,543,347 tonnes
● 21 of 21 Yamal LNG cargoes were delivered to EU ports, despite Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine
● Year-on-year: EU imports from Yamal rose 0.4% compared with February 2025.
● 17 of 21 cargoes were transported by vessels linked to Seapeak (UK) and Dynagas (Greece).
● All vessels delivering cargoes were insured in Europe.

Lagos — The February figures underscore that European infrastructure and maritime services remain central to Russia’s LNG export revenues. The UK has introduced some new sanctions on Russian LNG  — but has imposed nothing on the Arc7 tanker fleet, the vessels at the very heart of Yamal operations.

The EU has so far been unable to act, with Hungary blocking the latest sanctions package. Campaigners are calling on both the UK and EU to close the remaining loopholes without delay.

This comes as, on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, Vladimir Putin suggested Russia could halt gas supplies to Europe and redirect exports to other markets, linking the move to the EU’s planned ban on Russian gas and the current energy market turmoil triggered by the Iran war. However, February’s shipment data suggests that Russia’s Arctic LNG exports remain heavily dependent on European infrastructure and buyers.

No diversion outside Europe

In February, all Yamal deliveries went to the EU. Zero shipments went to China or Asia, compared with 4 Asia-bound cargoes in February 2025. This marks the first February since Yamal began operations in which every cargo was delivered to the EU. This underlines that Yamal LNG depends on European markets and demonstrates the lack of viable alternative destinations for Russia’s LNG at scale.

Two critical lifelines keep Yamal LNG running

1. Access to EU ports — In February, every single Yamal LNG cargo was delivered to a European port, with no shift toward alternative markets of any kind.

2. Dependence on the Arc7 tanker fleet — During winter operations in the Gulf of Ob, only Arc7 ice-class tankers can operate — and it is Western companies, not Russia, that operate the fleet keeping Yamal running. Of the 14 Arc7 vessels serving Yamal LNG, 11 are run by Seapeak (UK, 6 vessels) and Dynagas (Greece, 5 vessels). Russia launched the first second-generation Arc7 vessel, the Aleksey Kosygin, in late 2025. However, it was only assembled in Russia. The key components were still manufactured in the West and are currently not being delivered to Russia due to existing sanctions. The Alexei Kosygin is also sanctioned and therefore does not serve Yamal, but ALNG2. Without the European-operated fleet, Yamal LNG operations would halt almost entirely during the winter months.

European facilitation of Russian LNG exports carries growing security and geopolitical risks, as there are credible reports that the FSB is present on these ships. Sanctions against Yamal, the Arc7 fleet, and the associated maritime services would significantly curb Russia’s ability to sustain exports during winter operations.

Reacting to the new February data, Sebastian Rötters, Sanctions Campaigner at urgewald, said:

“February’s numbers tell a stark story. Every single Yamal cargo went to Europe. Russia had no alternative customer and remained fully dependent on access to EU ports.

When Moscow talks about redirecting gas elsewhere, the data tells a different story. For Arctic LNG, Europe remains the only market able to absorb these volumes.

The EU and UK continue to stand on the sidelines and simply watch the action unfold. Targeting Yamal and the Arc7 fleet is the most direct lever available. Governments know it. They just need to act.”