European buyers imported a record volume of liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Yamal export hub during the first half of 2026, generating around €6 billion in revenue for Moscow.
The Siberian facility sent 136 LNG cargoes to Europe, amounting to almost 10 million tonnes and representing a 16% increase compared with the same period last year. France, Belgium and Spain were the largest buyers.
According to data cited by campaign group Urgewald and analysis firm Kpler, around 97% of Yamal’s LNG output during the six-month period was delivered to Europe.
Russia is now earning its highest LNG revenues since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
Sebastian Rötters of Urgewald criticised the increase in imports, arguing that Europe continued to buy large volumes of Russian LNG even as attacks on Ukraine intensified.
The EU has begun tightening restrictions on Russian gas, with a ban on new short-term contracts taking effect in April. A wider ban covering existing long-term contracts is scheduled to begin in January next year.
However, European efforts to reduce dependence on Russian gas have been complicated by disruption in the Middle East.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has restricted supplies from Qatar, which accounted for around 7% of European gas demand last year.
Europe has increasingly turned to the US for replacement supply, with EU imports of American LNG rising sharply.
The US now accounts for almost two-thirds of EU LNG imports, while Russia still represents around 13%.
European gas storage levels are also below normal seasonal levels, with reserves approximately half full compared with around two-thirds at this stage in a typical year.
Yamal LNG, located on Russia’s Arctic coast, relies on a specialised fleet of ice-breaking tankers and continued access to European ports and servicing infrastructure.
Urgewald estimated that 38% of Yamal LNG exports went to France, 27% to Belgium and 25% to Spain, with the Netherlands and Portugal also among the buyers.
