Last night’s Russian strike on Kyiv hit the building housing the European Union’s mission to Ukraine, as well as the British Council. This was not only another assault on Ukrainian civilians, it was an attack on EU property itself, a clear act of aggression that shows Russia is at war with Europe. These horrific attacks have left at least 12 people dead, including three children and wounded dozens more.
As EU leaders gather today in Copenhagen to discuss the 19th EU sanctions package, Razom We Stand, a Ukrainian campaign group fighting to cut off the fossil fuel revenues that fuel Putin’s war, urges them to stop stalling and take decisive action against the oil and gas revenues that are bankrolling Russia’s war.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has earned more than €931 billion from fossil fuel exports. Alarmingly, in the last year, the EU alone has paid almost €22 billion, more than the EU provided in financial aid to Ukraine over the same period. These funds bankroll the missiles, drones and bombs that take countless lives, destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leave families without heat or electricity, and result in the destruction of the EU’s own mission in Ukraine.
Dr. Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said: “When a Russian missile strikes the EU’s own mission in Kyiv, it is no longer just Ukraine under attack; it is Europe itself under bombardment. This was an attack on EU property, a direct act of aggression against every European citizen who believes in freedom and peace. Yet even as Russia bombs our cities and kills innocent civilians, the EU continues to send billions for Russian gas. Those euros are turned into missiles that crash into our homes, hospitals, and schools. European leaders cannot meet today in Denmark with more words of sympathy or high-level gestures that mean nothing to people sheltering under rockets and missiles. Russia needs to be cut off from the oil and gas profits that keep its war machine alive. A full ban on Russian LNG in the 19th sanctions package is a life-saving necessity. Every day of delay costs Ukrainian lives and erodes Europe’s own security.”
The EU has already shown it can act. Nord Stream 1 and 2 were shut down in the 18th sanctions package. But Moscow has pivoted to LNG, exporting vast volumes through European ports, mainly in Spain, France and Belgium. While countries like Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden and the UK have already banned Russian LNG. The EU must close sanctions gaps and show unity in its support for Ukraine.
Therefore, we urge the EU to quickly:
- Implement an immediate and full ban on Russian LNG imports and purchases in the upcoming 19th sanctions package.
- Sanction all the LNG tankers tied to Russian LNG projects. Out of 81 LNG vessels identified by Razom We Stand, the EU has sanctioned only 18 of them (15 standard LNG tankers, 2 offshore ships and only 1 Arc7 icebreaking carrier). Arc7 carriers are particularly valuable to Novatek, Russia’s second-largest gas producer, which relies heavily on them.
- Prohibit EU shipyards such as Damen and Fayard A/S from repairing and maintaining Russian Arc7 ice-class LNG tankers.
- Sanction Novatek and its subsidiaries, as well as Novatek’s CEO Leonid Mikhelson, following the examples of the UK in 2022 and Ukraine in 2025.
- Ban all EU investments in Russia’s Yamal LNG terminals, building on the current prohibition of future investments in, and exports to, LNG projects under construction in Russia.
