From the perspective of Russian energy planners, the expansion of the shadow LNG fleet is a rational response to an increasingly hostile international economic environment. Faced with the prospect of being completely locked out of the European market by 2027, Moscow views the development of its own maritime logistics as a matter of national economic survival. By securing its own fleet, Russia ensures that it can continue to serve non-Western buyers, thereby protecting its fiscal stability against external pressure.
Proponents of this approach argue that the Kremlin is simply exercising its right to maintain trade relationships with nations that have not joined the Western sanctions regime. In this view, the "shadow fleet" is not an act of defiance, but a necessary logistical pivot to prevent the collapse of the country's gas industry. By investing in domestic shipbuilding at facilities like Zvezda, Russia is also attempting to reduce its long-term reliance on foreign maritime technology and services, which have become unreliable due to political interference.
Furthermore, those within the Russian energy sector maintain that the demand for natural gas remains high in Asia and other regions. By creating a dedicated fleet, Russia is positioning itself to meet this global demand regardless of European policy shifts. This strategy allows the country to bypass the "weaponization" of energy infrastructure by Western powers, ensuring that its natural resources continue to generate revenue that supports the broader domestic economy.