Photo: Russian icebreaker Tor in the ice-covered port of Sabetta
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This summary is based on Euromaidan Press – “The Arctic is melting, Ukraine is bleeding, and G7 ‘climate leaders’ still won’t quit Yamal LNG”
Ukraine Targets Russian Arctic Energy
Ukraine has introduced new sanctions against Russia’s Arctic fossil fuel projects, which continue to fund the Kremlin’s war and deepen the climate crisis. Yet the G7 and the European Union have still not fully sanctioned Yamal LNG, one of Russia’s most profitable energy ventures.
What Yamal LNG Is and Why It Matters
Yamal LNG is a major liquefied natural gas project in the Arctic that extracts, freezes, and exports natural gas using icebreaking tankers. It is one of Russia’s largest revenue sources and remains central to financing the war against Ukraine.
Arctic LNG 2 and Ongoing Expansion
Arctic LNG 2, although sanctioned earlier, has still come online. Together with Yamal LNG and Sakhalin 2, it represents Russia’s growing strategy to increase LNG exports through the Arctic and bypass traditional trade routes.
How Arctic LNG Fuels the War and Climate Crisis
Between 2022 and 2024, Yamal LNG paid an estimated 9.5 billion dollars into Russia’s budget, enough to purchase significant amounts of military equipment. Europe still buys the majority of Yamal LNG under long term contracts, while Western and Asian shipping fleets keep Russia’s Northern Sea Route fully operational.
Partial Measures Are Not Enough
The United Kingdom plans to restrict maritime services for Russian LNG starting in 2026, but without coordinated G7 action, Russia can shift exports to Asian markets. Japan and South Korea continue relying on LNG from Yamal and Sakhalin 2, weakening the effect of European sanctions.
A Call for International Coordination
Ukrainian experts urge unified sanctions targeting Yamal LNG, Arctic LNG 2 and Sakhalin 2. They also recommend restricting LNG tanker access to the Northern Sea Route and improving tracking of energy shipment origins to prevent rerouting.
A Dual Threat to Security and Climate
The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average. Russia is exploiting the region to finance its war and accelerate climate destabilization. Without strong and coordinated action from the G7 and the European Union, Russia will continue profiting from Arctic LNG at the expense of both Ukraine and global climate stability.
Immediate international action is essential before these crises reach irreversible tipping points.