As Ireland begins its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, Dublin has the opportunity to make closing the remaining loopholes in the EU’s Russia sanctions regime an immediate priority after the Russian LNG tanker Rudolf Samoylovich arrived at Denmark’s Fayard shipyard for maintenance this morning.
The vessel is the first Arc7 LNG carrier expected to undergo maintenance since campaigners warned that Fayard has become the last shipyard in the European Union still servicing the specialised fleet that keeps Russia’s flagship Yamal LNG project operating. EU restrictions prohibiting maintenance services for LNG tankers operating in Russia will take effect on 1 January 2027, making this summer the final window for such repairs.
The arrival comes as Ireland takes over the rotating presidency of the EU Council with responsibility for steering negotiations on the bloc’s next sanctions package against Russia, and as talks at the recent G7 in France mentioned strengthening sanctions also. Among the issues still under discussion are measures affecting Russian LNG exports and LNG tankers, alongside wider efforts to tighten restrictions on the Kremlin’s energy revenues.
Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said:
“The Arc7 fleet is indispensable to Russia’s Yamal LNG project, and as long as they are available to Russia to sustain its LNG exports, the resulting revenues will continue to finance Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
“Every time Fayard services one of these vessels, it extends the operational life of a fleet that underpins one of the Kremlin’s key energy projects. Fayard chose to continue supporting this trade while it remains legal, when, in truth, it should have cut off all servicing of the Russian LNG fleet earlier, in line with Europe’s broader effort to cut off the financial lifelines sustaining Russia’s aggression. The EU should also move quickly to close the remaining loopholes by prohibiting all maritime services that enable Russian fossil fuel exports.”
Earlier this month, Urgewald published research identifying Fayard as the final EU shipyard continuing to service the Arc7 fleet after Damen Shiprepair Brest ceased maintenance work on these vessels in 2024. The specialised ice-class carriers are essential to transporting liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Yamal LNG project through Arctic waters.
According to Urgewald’s analysis, up to six Arc7 vessels could require servicing during summer 2026. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, these vessels have each transported an average of 5.3 million tonnes of Russian LNG, representing around €4 billion in cargo value.
The arrival also comes amid growing security concerns surrounding Russia’s LNG shipping network. Recent investigative reporting documented the Russian LNG tanker Marshal Vasilevskiy sailing in the Baltic Sea with heavy machine guns on board, while also identifying individuals with Russian military backgrounds travelling on the vessel. Previous reporting has alleged that Russia’s Federal Security Service has sought to increase control over the Yamal LNG fleet by replacing Western officers with Russian personnel.
Urgewald, B4Ukraine and Razom We Stand are calling on the EU Member States to agree on stronger sanctions that eliminate the remaining loopholes enabling Russian fossil fuel exports, including maritime services that support the Kremlin’s LNG trade, while urging Denmark to ensure no further Arc7 LNG carriers receive maintenance before the new restrictions take effect in January 2027.
