The European Union has paid an estimated $9.6 billion (8.7 billion euros) for Russian Yamal LNG in the first ten months of 2026, exceeding its total payments for the whole of 2025 by about 21 percent, the German campaign group Urgewald said on Nov. 12, citing vessel-tracking data from Kpler. The report comes with 50 days left before a full EU ban on Russian LNG imports takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
In October alone, EU countries imported 705,591 metric tons of Yamal LNG, an 11% decline from September, Urgewald said. Urgewald said rising prices meant the value of the purchases rose by 2.6%. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reported that Russia's daily LNG export revenue from unloaded cargoes increased by 3% to $85 million per day in October, even as volumes fell by 4% month-on-month. The higher payments came as LNG prices rose this year after the Iran war and the blocked Strait of Hormuz cut off a large part of Qatar's supply, sending benchmark LNG and natural gas prices in Europe and Asia soaring.
France was the primary destination for Russian LNG in the EU last month, receiving 70% of the bloc's purchases via seven cargoes. Two cargoes were delivered to Spain and one to the Netherlands. Belgium, historically a leading buyer, received no deliveries to its Zeebrugge terminal between August and October, according to Urgewald. In October, the EU remained the largest buyer of Russian LNG, accounting for 47% of Russia's total LNG exports, followed by China (26%), Japan (18%), and South Korea (6%).
Sebastian Rötters, a sanctions campaigner at Urgewald, called on EU governments to hold the line. "With just 50 days to go until the January ban, Europe must hold the line. No retreat, no new exemptions and no lifelines for this trade. After almost five years of war, governments must finally pull the plug on the Russian LNG business," he said.
CREA noted that loaded Russian LNG volumes rose by 5% in October from September, driven by higher loadings at Yamal LNG, up 17%, and the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project, up 20%.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The continuing high value of EU purchases illustrates the gap between sanctions timelines and actual trade, testing the credibility of EU resolve.
- Geopolitical disruptions outside Europe are inadvertently inflating Russia's energy revenue, complicating the bloc's strategy to defund the Kremlin.
- The weeks before the ban represent a last chance for European importers to stockpile, potentially triggering a final spike in purchases.
Background
The EU agreed to ban Russian LNG imports as part of a broader sanctions package against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The phased approach gave member states time to secure alternative supplies from the US, Norway, and Qatar. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including the Iran war and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, has severely disrupted Qatari LNG exports, lifting global benchmark prices and increasing the value of Russia's remaining LNG exports.
Key Perspectives
- Urgewald: The NGO tracking the trades calls for the EU to strictly enforce the January ban without loopholes, arguing that any delay would directly fund the Russian war effort.
- CREA: The energy think tank's data indicates that Russia is earning more per day from LNG exports despite stable or slightly falling volumes, driven by the high-price environment.
What to Watch
- Whether a last-minute surge in EU LNG purchases occurs before the Jan. 1 cutoff.
- The extent to which Asian buyers, particularly China and Japan, increase imports of Russian LNG displaced from Europe.
- Any EU member states seeking exemptions or delays to the ban.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe headline says EU payments for Yamal LNG in 2026 topped the whole of 2025 by about 21%.Kyiv Independent: “This means the European bloc has already paid over one-fifth more for Yamal LNG this year than throughout the entire 2025, according to the NGO's data shared with the Kyiv Independent.”
- SupportedUrgewald estimated that the EU paid $9.6 billion (8.7 billion euros) for Yamal LNG in the first ten months of 2026, citing Kpler data.Kyiv Independent: “The EU has paid about 8.7 billion euros ($9.6 billion) for liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia's Arctic Yamal project in the first 10 months of this year, the sanctions-monitoring NGO Urgewald said on Nov. 12, citing Kpler data.”
- SupportedA full EU ban on Russian LNG imports takes effect on January 1, 2027, about 50 days after the report.Oilprice.com: “The EU has about 50 days left until a full ban on Russian LNG imports comes into effect on January 1, 2027.”
- SupportedEU countries purchased 705,591 metric tons of Yamal LNG in October, down 11% from September.Kyiv Independent: “In October, EU countries purchased 705,591 metric tons of Yamal LNG , down 11% from September.”
- SupportedUrgewald said the value of October purchases rose 2.6% from September as prices increased.Kyiv Independent: “However, Urgewald notes that rising prices meant the payments actually rose by 2.6% since last month.”
- SupportedCREA reported that Russia's daily LNG export revenues from unloaded cargoes rose 3% to $85 million in October.Oilprice.com: “In October alone, Russia’s LNG export revenues from unloaded cargoes rose by 3% to $85 million (77 million euros) per day , while volumes fell by 4% month-on-month, the monthly analysis by Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed on Thursday.”
- SupportedThe volume of unloaded Russian LNG cargoes fell 4% month-on-month in October, according to CREA.Oilprice.com: “In October alone, Russia’s LNG export revenues from unloaded cargoes rose by 3% to $85 million (77 million euros) per day , while volumes fell by 4% month-on-month, the monthly analysis by Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed on Thursday.”
- SupportedThe story links higher LNG prices to the Iran war and the blocked Strait of Hormuz cutting off a large part of Qatar's supply, and says this sent European and Asian benchmark prices soaring.Oilprice.com: “This year, Europe has been paying higher prices for LNG imports after the Iran war and the blocked Strait of Hormuz cut off a large part of Qatar’s LNG supply, sending benchmark LNG and natural gas prices in Europe and Asia soaring.”
- SupportedFrance was the main EU destination for Russian LNG in October, accounting for 70% of EU purchases.Kyiv Independent: “France was the main destination for Russian LNG cargoes in October, representing 70% of all EU purchases.”
- SupportedUrgewald reported no deliveries to Belgium's Zeebrugge terminal between August and October.Kyiv Independent: “While Belgium has traditionally been one of the leading buyers of Russian LNG, Urgewald reported no deliveries to the country's Zeebrugge terminal between August and October.”
- SupportedThe EU was the largest buyer of Russian LNG in October, accounting for 47% of Russia's exports, ahead of China, Japan and South Korea.Oilprice.com: “The EU remained the largest buyer of Russian LNG in October, accounting for almost half (47%) of Russia’s total LNG exports, followed by China (26%), Japan (18%), and South Korea (6%), the analysis found.”
- SupportedSebastian Rötters of Urgewald said: “With just 50 days to go until the January ban, Europe must hold the line. No retreat, no new exemptions and no lifelines for this trade. After almost five years of war, governments must finally pull the plug on the Russian LNG business.”Kyiv Independent: “"With just 50 days to go until the January ban, Europe must hold the line. No retreat, no new exemptions and no lifelines for this trade. After almost five years of war, governments must finally pull the plug on the Russian LNG business."”