Russia is actively expanding its "dark fleet" of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers in an effort to circumvent Western sanctions and ensure continued exports from its Arctic projects. This initiative involves acquiring older vessels, often 19 years or more in age, which are typically beyond the operational lifespan for mainstream LNG operators. These acquisitions are frequently made through opaque ownership structures from third-country sellers.

Over the past five months, six elderly LNG carriers have been identified as being sold and subsequently deployed in Russian LNG trades. These additions are part of a larger pattern, as seven other elderly LNG carriers were purchased by anonymous entities between February 2024 and May 2025 and also entered Russian service. When combined with ten newbuilds delivered to state-controlled Russian shipowners, Russia's LNG shadow fleet is now estimated to comprise 23 vessels.

A key driver behind this accelerated fleet expansion is the impending stricter EU sanctions on the LNG sector, which are set to take effect on January 1, 2027. These sanctions will restrict which vessels can call at LNG terminals in EU jurisdictions, necessitating an alternative carrier base for Russia to maintain its LNG export capacity outside Western frameworks. The UK recently sanctioned four of these LNG carriers—Orion, Kosmos, Merkuriy, and Luch—making it the first G7 country to directly target these newly acquired vessels linked to Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project, which itself is sanctioned by the US.

These sanctioned vessels, which had previously serviced Oman's export plant, are now being utilized to load fuel from the US-sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project. For instance, the Kosmos, Merkuriy, Orion, and Luch have been observed docking near Murmansk to pick up cargo from the blacklisted Saam floating storage unit, which holds LNG from Arctic LNG 2. These ship-to-ship transfers, conducted in the Murmansk region after transport by icebreaking LNG carriers from Arctic LNG 2, highlight the complex logistical network Russia is developing to maintain its exports despite sanctions. The UK's actions are part of a broader package targeting Russia's war economy, including banks, military procurement networks, and over 20 oil and gas vessels.