Sanctioned Tankers Carried More Than a Quarter of Russia’s LNG Exports
Twenty-two sanctioned LNG tankers transported 2.1 million tonnes of Russian LNG in the third quarter of 2026. That is more than 26% of Russia’s total seaborne LNG exports for the quarter and 37% of the active LNG tanker fleet loading in Russia. The findings come from the new edition of KSE Institute’s Russian LNG Tracker.
Global seaborne LNG exports reached 33.8 million tonnes in September. The United States remained the largest exporter with a 31% share, while Russia ranked third with 10%. Between January and September 2026, Russia exported 12.0 million tonnes of LNG to the EU, up 7.8% year-on-year. The EU received 47% of Russia’s total LNG exports, with France accounting for 40% of EU-bound volumes.
China and France together imported 60% of Russian LNG in September. Tankers linked exclusively to companies outside EU/G7 jurisdictions carried 59% of Russian LNG in September. These vessels mainly supplied China (55%) and South Korea (13%). In September, 44 unique tankers transported Russian LNG, up from 30 in August. During July-September, the top ten ship management companies accounted for an average of 88% of Russia’s LNG exports.
Chasing the Russian Shadow Fleet in EU Waters
The KSE Institute presented a new study on the legal options available to states for responding to security, environmental, and infrastructure risks associated with Russia’s shadow fleet. The study finds that there is no single legal basis for restricting the shadow fleet. Instead, international law offers a range of complementary avenues depending on the circumstances of each case.
What states can do depends on a vessel’s nationality and conduct, its location and applicable passage regime, the conduct of its flag state, and, during armed conflict, whether it qualifies as a military objective. The study identifies opportunities for stronger action against vessels with uncertain nationality, location-specific enforcement options in international straits, measures responding to environmental risks, countermeasures against flag states, and, in armed conflict, action against individual vessels that meet the requirements for military-objective status.
Ukraine Imposes Sanctions Against 39 More Vessels of the Russian “Shadow Fleet”
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed recently decrees enacting decisions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose sanctions on 39 vessels of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” According to the office of the president, these vessels transport Russian energy resources to ports in countries outside the EU/G7.
Original Article: Sanctioned tankers carried more than a quarter of Russia’s LNG exports — Shippingtelegraph