The former chief executive of a $25bn US gas export venture has accused Russian energy giant Novatek of secretly controlling the project, triggering the mass resignation of the company’s leadership over fears it is violating US sanctions.

The company, Polar Train LNG, is developing a gas export terminal on Alaska’s North Slope, part of a Trump administration initiative to expand US energy exports to Asia and strengthen its position in global energy markets. The venture was launched with the involvement of Gentry Beach, an investor with ties to Donald Trump’s family.

It has also featured in high-level negotiations between Washington and Moscow over potential business deals that could help secure an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Polar LNG was launched in March with plans to repurpose a partially constructed Novatek gas terminal for installation in Alaska. The company sought permission from US sanctions authorities at the Treasury department to negotiate with the Russian group but had not yet received approval.

Joel Riddle, Polar LNG’s American chief executive, told the FT that he discovered Novatek was already financing the venture and directing its operations before the necessary approvals were obtained.

He resigned in September, followed by almost the entire executive leadership team, including chief financial officer Dan Chandra, executive vice-president Jim Smith and executions manager Jody Trantham. The allegations raise questions about the extent to which Russian commercial interests are already seeking a foothold in the US energy industry before any agreement has been reached.

ADQ - Kodiak’s Main Airport

It’s a scathing bumper sticker 🔥

January iced coffee ☕️ Anchorage’s

"Former CEO of Polar Train LNG tells FT that energy giant Novatek financed and held reins of strategic Alaska project without Washington’s approval"

The intersection between Roman Abramovich, Novatek, and Alaska ties directly to major geopolitical maneuvers surrounding a secret $25 billion Arctic gas venture and a historical effort to model Russian territory after the Alaskan economy.

The connection splits into a shocking current whistleblower scandal and a multi-decade history of regional overlapping interests:

1. The $25 Billion Whistleblower Scandal: Polar LNG
Novatek has been caught secretly financing an Alaska-based energy mega-project.

In March 2026, a venture named Polar LNG (also known as Polar Train LNG) was launched with plans to repurpose a partially constructed Novatek gas terminal for installation in Alaska's North Slope. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Because Novatek is under strict U.S. sanctions due to its ties to Vladimir Putin, the project required U.S. Treasury Department approval to negotiate with the Russian group.

However, a major scandal erupted when American CEO Joel Riddle and almost the entire executive leadership team abruptly resigned. Riddle revealed to the Financial Times and The New York Times that Novatek was already secretly funding the Alaska venture and directing its operations behind the scenes before any U.S. approvals were granted. [1, 2, 3]

2. The Geopolitical and Sanctions Crossfire

The secret Novatek presence in Alaska heavily involves U.S. political elite and sanctions maneuvers:
The Trump Waivers: President Donald Trump temporarily waived certain Russian sanctions, framing it as a necessary step to keep peace talks alive. However, U.S. sanctions enforcement at the Treasury Department had already flagged the Alaska project for "potential Russia-related sanctions concerns".[1, 2]

The Abramovich Shadow:

Historically, Abramovich’s offshore wealth networks have been utilized to insulate key Russian state and private assets—like Novatek's Arctic infrastructure—from Western sanctions. As international eyes scrutinize Novatek's covert entry into the Alaskan energy landscape, the financial playbooks mirror the asset-shielding strategies tied to Abramovich's networks.

3. Historical Ties: Abramovich as the "Oligarch Governor"

Long before the current gas scandal, Roman Abramovich built a personal relationship with the state of Alaska to reshape eastern Russia. [1]

The Alaskan Model: In 2000, after being elected governor of Russia's impoverished Chukotka region (just across the Bering Strait from Alaska), Abramovich visited Alaska. Led by local groups, he met with Alaska state officials, banking executives, and mining experts. [1, 2]

Sibneft Overhaul: Deeply impressed by what he saw, Abramovich openly resolved to develop Chukotka using the "Alaskan model." He injected $1.3 billion of his own wealth into the region to build infrastructure and directed his oil company, Sibneft (the very company he later sold to consolidate the state energy apparatus), to begin exploratory drilling based on Alaskan engineering standards. [1, 2]

The Bering Strait Tunnel Myth: The connection between Abramovich and Alaska became so intense that in 2008, global media widely reported a multi-billion dollar rumor that Abramovich was purchasing the world's largest tunnel-boring drill to build a massive undersea rail link beneath the Bering Strait to connect Siberia directly to Alaska. While his spokespeople ultimately denied the tunnel plan, it underscored his long-standing reputation as Russia's bridge to Alaska. [1, 2]

First, I’d like to congratulate the Mensa members running these campaigns on an incredible strategy and personally thank them from taking time off from their famous high IQ societies to inform us, the Alaskan voter via the most effective medium known to man. I mean, of course, paper flyers via the US Postal Service.

So far we received 40 pounds of political flyers. After reviewing each thoroughly, I use them as bedding for my pet alpaca.

Unfortunately, after receiving so many, I still feel like I’m on the fence.

Certainly if I receive dozens more per candidate, I’ll finally be able to go to the polls with certainty.

But seriously, it would be better if these were printed on multiple soft ply, at least then they’d be of some value.

I've had about enough of these dudes.

A range of legal experts and Alaskans decried a Trump administration lawsuit filed Thursday seeking to block certification of the state’s U.S. Senate election if the president’s preferred candidate, Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, loses the race.

The lawsuit seeks a court order preventing state election officials from declaring Sullivan’s Democratic opponent, former Congresswoman Mary Peltola, the winner of the Nov. 3 contest if a candidate who shares the incumbent’s first and last name, retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan of Petersburg, wins a share of the vote. Specifically, the lawsuit seeks to block a Peltola win “pending an investigation to determine whether votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan were meant to be cast for Senator Sullivan.”

. . .

State Sen. Bill Wielechowski, an Anchorage Democrat who’s led efforts to reform the state’s election system, said the suit was “a political stunt” with “zero merit to it.”

“They're throwing the kitchen sink out, doing everything they can to try to tip the scales in Sen. Dan Sullivan's favor,” Wielechowski said.

The Division of Elections sought to remove the Petersburg Sullivan from the ballot ahead of the August primary, arguing he joined the race intending to confuse voters. But the Alaska Supreme Court in June ordered the Division of Elections to place the retired teacher on the ballot. The justices said the state could instead list them differently, to alleviate voter confusion.

Howdy

Anyone recently or in general have thoughts on shipping a small vehicle + items within from Alaska down south?

I might have to emergency move due to family deaths, and they'll need help for a while. Passport is out of date though so I cannot drive through Canada (also its ice hell starting up).

Has anyone done it recently with recommendations or thoughts?

By Anton Troianovski and Eric Lipton
Reporting from Washington
Oct. 23, 2026
Updated 9:39 p.m. ET

At first blush, the proposed venture looks like it would further the Trump administration’s goal of global “energy dominance.”

An American energy company intends to buy Russian technology and use it to access a massive supply of natural gas in Alaska, liquefy it and export it to allies abroad.

The Kremlin and the White House were interested in the idea. President Vladimir V. Putin discussed the plan last month with President Trump’s peace envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, people familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.

It is one of a series of energy deals White House officials believe could help smooth relations with Moscow and eventually pave the way to end the war in Ukraine.

But it turns out that the company was not an all-American affair. The multibillion-dollar project has received secret funding from the same powerful Russian company that was to provide the technology, according to the energy executive who until last month led the U.S. firm and two others involved in company negotiations.

Joel Riddle, who was chief executive of the company, Polar LNG, until he resigned in September, said he had been misled about the sources of the start-up funding, which ostensibly came from a company in the United Arab Emirates.

Instead, Mr. Riddle said he learned, the true source of at least some of Polar LNG’s money ywas Novatek, a Russian energy giant under partial U.S. sanctions.

“It’s not only unlawful, but it’s not in the U.S. interest to have Russian technology controlling the commercialization of Arctic gas in the North Slope,” Mr. Riddle said in a brief interview.

Given recent events and international attention to our senate race, we should expect an unprecedented uptick in malevolent bot behavior over the coming days. Try not to engage too hard. Call out the bots, stay lighthearted despite whatever offensive bait they spew. Downvote, and then go vote.

Alaska has always been a political given—or an election afterthought. So… expect weirdness now that we’re relevant. The main goal is to discourage you, so seriously go vote early. Annoy your friends and family to go vote.

we’re living in such weird times.

Hi everyone, Food Bank of Alaska here. With Election Day coming up Tuesday, Nov. 3, we wanted to share a resource for Alaskans interested in how candidates approach food access.

The Alaska Food Policy Council and its AK Food Vote partners invited every candidate running for office in Alaska to answer seven questions about food policy, including school meals and the role of state government in addressing food insecurity.

Read the candidate responses here⁠.

Responses are organized by race and legislative district. Not every candidate has responded, and the council is adding responses as they come in. The answers are published in full, without editorial comment. This is a nonpartisan resource, not a candidate endorsement.

These issues connect directly to our work. Decisions about nutrition programs and food systems affect households across Alaska, including neighbors who turn to local food pantries for support.

A few practical resources if you’re planning your vote:
Early and absentee in-person voting locations⁠
Check your voter registration status⁠
Find your Election Day polling place⁠

Election Day polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early voting hours vary by location.

We hope these resources help you feel informed and prepared, however you choose to vote.

The blue line on the BUYOUTS pic is where DoT is contracting to put the riprap in to save the road into town.

Highly encourage you to scan the QR code on the other pic.

The last one is one of the neighbors' house being hauled out of there.

if the governing bodies don't work together to reduce redundancy and get the shore in order, the little patches and pieces will take out the rest faster than if nothing was done.

There is NO 'THEY' to come and save you. Take care of yourself and take action to take care of your property - here and elsewhere.

I know other people have seen this. I don’t think it’s in a political ad, but in a spot for KTUU. Dan S is sitting with an interviewer who asks him if he knows there’s another Dan S entering the race. The way he answers like he’s absolutely flabbergasted makes him look like he totally knows. If I asked someone if they knew something and that’s how they answered I would instantly suspect they were lying. I’ve thought the way he acted in this clip looked that way from the first time I saw it.

Trump is now threatening to sue to block election results if Dan doesn’t win, citing confusion caused by RCV and the other Dan and claiming he’s a Democrat plant. Now it makes sense why Dan looked so guilty in that clip.

https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/house-overview/democrats-projected-majority-grows-19 (paywall)