Image for representation purposes only Russia has nearly doubled the number of LNG carriers serving its sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project in less than a year. At least 20 vessels have now served the Arctic LNG 2 facility and related infrastructure, according to a Bloomberg analysis of ship-tracking data, compared with 11 at the end of December 2025. A Russian-built advanced ice-class LNG carrier that can operate in Arctic waters throughout the year has been added to the fleet recently. It was tracked picking up a cargo from Arctic LNG 2 over the weekend. The European Union is phasing out Russian LNG imports by the end of 2026, while EU restrictions on Russia’s LNG sector are due to take effect on January 1, 2027. Russia Builds More Ships for Arctic LNG 2 The United States, European Union and United Kingdom sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 in 2024. The sanctions forced Moscow to delay its plan to triple LNG production by 2030. Russia has since been building a fleet that can move LNG without relying on Western shipping networks. Russia has been buying older LNG carriers for this fleet for months, maritime intelligence firm Windward said in a June report. Windward said the upcoming EU sanctions will restrict which vessels can call at LNG terminals in EU jurisdictions. This means Russia needs another carrier base to maintain LNG exports outside Western frameworks. Russia used an ice-class LNG tanker, the sanctioned Christophe de Margerie, to keep Arctic LNG 2 cargoes moving to China during the past winter. The new Russian-built ice-class vessel is the second advanced vessel of its type designed to travel through Arctic waters throughout the year. China Remains the Only Buyer China is currently the only buyer willing to take Arctic LNG 2 cargoes. This limits Russia’s options for selling the sanctioned LNG and could give China more influence over pricing. Energy exports by sea and pipeline are also part of the close economic relationship between Moscow and Beijing. Russi