The European Union is still buying Russian gas. Here’s who the biggest buyer is.

From January to October 2026, EU ports received 177 tankers carrying 12.9 million tons of LNG from Russia's Yamal, marking a slight increase from the previous year. Despite rising LNG prices due to geopolitical tensions, France emerged as the largest recipient, accounting for 42% of imports, followed by Belgium and Spain at 25% each. The EU plans to ban Russian LNG imports by early 2027, although some suggest delaying this due to security concerns. The ban is expected to significantly impact Russia's economy, as it currently supplies 81% of its LNG to Europe. Experts warn that losing the European market would be disastrous for Russia's Arctic economy.