European Energy Companies Continued Russian Arctic LNG Trade Despite Icebreaker Sanctions - Greenpeace

According to a Greenpeace UK's Unearthed investigation, major European energy companies, including Shell, TotalEnergies, and Naturgy, received Russian LNG shipments facilitated by sanctioned Russian nuclear icebreakers between December 2023 and May 2024.

Despite sanctions on Russia's Atomflot company by the UK and EU, the investigation tracked multiple LNG shipments from Russia's Sabetta port to European destinations, with nuclear icebreakers escorting tankers through ice-blocked Arctic routes.

The report identified:

• Five specific cases of 70,000-ton LNG shipments to Montoir, France, where the cargo was transferred to Shell vessels
• 23 additional cases of Atomflot-escorted LNG deliveries to various European ports, including Zeebrugge, Dunkirk, Montoir, Huelva, Mugardos, Bilbao, and Rotterdam

Legal experts suggest this arrangement might violate sanctions, as UK and EU laws apply even when sanctioned entities receive indirect benefits.

Shell maintains compliance with all sanctions but has not directly addressed questions about Atomflot's involvement. Companies that violate sanctions could face criminal charges, and the UK's OFSI is already investigating 318 potential breaches.

This activity highlights how Russian LNG trade has reached record volumes despite reduced pipeline gas supplies to Europe following the Ukraine conflict.