THE UK Government have been urged to toughen sanctions after figures revealed Glasgow‑linked ships carried £2.18bn of Russian Arctic gas to Europe this year so far.
New analysis by human rights organisation Urgewald shows six Arc7 vessels, of which Seapeak Maritime (Glasgow) Ltd has a 50 per cent ownership, delivered 4.25 million tonnes of gas to EU ports between January and July 2026.
The gas in question is Yamal LNG - a liquefied natural gas produced at a giant Russian plant on the Yamal Peninsula in the Arctic, then shipped in tankers to buyers, mostly in Europe.
Operated by Russian energy group Novatek, the project is one of Russia's major energy exports and a source of revenue fuelling Moscow's wartime economy and offensive in Ukraine.
Previous analysis found that no other company than Seapeak Maritime carried a larger share of Yamal LNG in 2025.
Alexander Kirk, Sanctions Campaigner at Urgewald, said the UK should "go further" in its targeting of the Arctic supply chains, which he said were "still generating billions for Russia".
He said: "The UK holds many of the cards. It can sanction the small Arc7 fleet and restrict the UK-linked maritime services that help keep these vessels operating. Six ships linked to Seapeak’s Glasgow operations carried Russian LNG worth around £2.2 billion to EU ports in only seven months.
"Peaceful economic sanctions are available now. If governments want to constrain Russian revenues and reduce the human, environmental and energy risks of military escalation, they should use them.”
It's not the first time there has been pressure for action on Seapeak. In March last year, at a rally outside the US consulate, Ross Greer MSP called for the UK government to completely close the organisation's operations.
And in February, investigative reporting by High North News alleged Russia's security service (FSB) was involved in Yamal operations, leading Chris Law MP to table a parliamentary question asking whether the Foreign Office had assessed these claims.
The answer to that question was not clear, and at the time, Urgewald criticised the UK government for "failing to provide transparency on a major national security issue".
In November 2025, Westminster did target Seapeak by announcing a Maritime Services Ban that blocks all UK companies from insuring, servicing, or transporting Russian LNG.
However, these restrictions had shortfalls. The ban still permits operations under pre-existing contracts until 2027, and could in effect be bypassed completely if Seapeak transfers vessel management out of the UK.
Patrick Harvie, Green MSP and convener of the Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, says Seapeak should instead be "sanctioned and shut down".
“No company fuelling Putin’s war machine should be allowed to profit in Scotland or anywhere else in Europe.
“Putin’s war machine is powered by the profits from Russian gas. Companies like Seapeak have raked in huge profits from shipping that gas while helping to bankroll the Russian military and boost a regime that has inflicted such suffering."
The figures were published on August 24, on Ukrainian Independence Day and at the time when Andy Burnham was visiting Kyiv for his first foreign trip.
Despite an assurance of greater support through long-range missile capability development, Burnham is facing pressure to tighten enablers at home.
Harvie continued: “Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine has killed thousands, destroyed lives and livelihoods and driven millions of families from their homes.
"There can be no place in Scotland or Europe for companies that are putting profits ahead of human lives.”
Seapeak has been approached for comment.
