---
title: "Ex-CEO Claims Russian Firm Financed Alaska LNG Project"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/business/ex-ceo-claims-russian-firm-financed-alaska-lng-project"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/ex-ceo-claims-russian-firm-financed-alaska-lng-project"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/ex-ceo-claims-russian-firm-financed-alaska-lng-project.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/ex-ceo-claims-russian-firm-financed-alaska-lng-project"
category: "Business & Economy"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-10-25T00:46:03.729Z"
source_reported: "2026-10-25T00:01:00.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-25T00:46:03.729Z"
trust_score: 60
critic_score: 60
hype_score: 40
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-10-25T00:45:20.835435+00:00"
---

# Ex-CEO Claims Russian Firm Financed Alaska LNG Project

*Resignations at Polar Train LNG follow allegations of secret funding and control by Novatek.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to Financial Times and New York Times; multiple outlets corroborate.
- Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is clear and holds together, but lacks direct quotes from affected parties beyond the former CEO.
- Hype 40 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are generally factual, but some use stronger language than the substance strictly supports.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Former CEO Joel Riddle resigned from Polar Train LNG, alleging Russian firm Novatek secretly financed and directed the $25 billion Alaska project.
- Polar Train LNG was founded in March 2026 to repurpose a partially built gas terminal from Novatek.
- Novatek confirmed it granted Tech Wave Industrial Projects Management rights to use its technology and signed a memorandum of understanding with Polar Train LNG in April.
- The US Treasury Department stated it takes potential sanctions violations seriously but does not comment on specific cases.

Former CEO Joel Riddle resigned from the American company Polar Train LNG due to suspicions that Russian energy giant Novatek was secretly financing and directing the $25 billion Alaska project. Riddle stated he discovered Novatek's involvement before US authorities approved negotiations with the Russian company. Almost all of Polar Train LNG's executive management team, including the chief financial officer and executive vice president, resigned following Riddle's departure in September.

Polar Train LNG was founded in March 2026 with plans to repurpose a partially built gas terminal from Novatek. The project is part of an initiative to increase US energy exports. Riddle initially believed investors connected to the Trump family and a company called Tech Wave Industrial Projects Management were providing funding. However, he later learned that Novatek was the source of capital.

Novatek confirmed it granted Tech Wave Industrial Projects Management the right to use its technology in Alaska and signed a memorandum of understanding with Polar Train LNG in April. Polar Train LNG stated that Tech Wave provided financing and that the company is seeking American investors and partners. The US Treasury Department stated it does not comment on potential sanctions violations but takes them seriously.

## Disagreement on Novatek's role

Polar Train LNG rejected Riddle's accusations, stating he was a disgruntled employee who was fired. The company asserted that Tech Wave provided financing and that the project is proceeding in compliance with US laws and is seeking American investors. The company also stated that Tech Wave provided financing and that the company is seeking American investors and partners.

## What the coverage left out

None of the centre-rated reports below mention the former CEO Joel Riddle's resignation or the allegations that Russian energy giant Novatek was secretly financing and directing the $25 billion Alaska project. The right-rated reports did not mention that Novatek's Arctic LNG 2 project was blacklisted by the US Treasury in 2023 due to sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 17 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 71% (12)
- Centre: 5% (1)
- Right: 24% (4)

19 of 36 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-25T00:45:20.835435+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-25T01:00:20.358Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated reports led with the allegations of secret Russian financing and control of the Alaska LNG project. Multiple outlets highlighted the resignations of former CEO Joel Riddle and other executives from Polar Train LNG due to these suspicions. Reports frequently mentioned that Novatek, a Russian energy giant, was allegedly involved, despite US sanctions related to its Arctic LNG 2 project. Several outlets noted the project's connection to the Trump administration's energy export goals and its emergence in discussions about ending the war in Ukraine. The role of Tech Wave Industrial Projects Management as a conduit for financing was also a recurring point.

### Centre

No separate framing summary.

### Right

- Right-rated reports focused on Novatek's confirmation of granting Tech Wave Industrial Projects Management the right to use its technology in Alaska and signing a memorandum of understanding with Polar Train LNG in April. These reports also included Polar Train LNG's statement that Tech Wave provided financing and that the company is seeking American investors and partners. The denial of wrongdoing by Polar Train LNG, which stated that former CEO Joel Riddle was a disgruntled employee, was also a key element in these reports.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- veryLow: 1
- mixed: 2
- high: 13
- unknown: 20

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Unknown](https://obozrevatel.com/ukr/section-politics-news/news-tse-superechyt-interesam-ssha-stalo-vidomo-shcho-krim-ukrayiny-obhovoryuvaly-predstavnyky-trampa-i-putina-25-10-2026.html) — “This Is Contrary to the Interests of the United States”: It Became Known that in Addition to Ukraine, Representatives of Trump and Putin Discussed
- [censor.net](https://censor.net/ua/news/4030233/ft-rf-tayemno-finansuvala-gazovyyi-proyekt-na-alyastsi) — The Russian Federation Secretly Financed the US Gas Project in Alaska,
- [Meduza](https://meduza.io/news/2026/10/24/nyt-i-financial-times-amerikanskiy-proekt-po-proizvodstvu-gaza-na-alyaske-tayno-kontroliruetsya-novatekom) — NYT and Financial Times: The American Gas Production Project in Alaska Is Secretly Controlled by Novatek
- [aljazeera.net](https://aljazeera.net/ebusiness/2026/10/24/%d9%85%d8%b4%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%b9-%d8%ba%d8%a7%d8%b2-%d8%a3%d9%85%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%83%d9%8a-%d8%a8%d9%8025-%d9%85%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%af%d9%88%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d9%8a%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%ac%d9%87) — A $25 Billion U.S. Gas Project Is Facing Charges of Secret Russian Control.
- [n1info.rs](https://n1info.rs/svet/ostavke-americka-kompanija-ruski-novatek-tajno-finansira-projekat-aljasci) — Resignations in an American Company Due to Suspicions that Russia's Novatek Is Secretly Financing a Project in Alaska
- [Dnevni list Danas](https://danas.rs/svet/ruski-novac-iza-trampovog-energetskog-plana-ostavke-zbog-projekta-na-aljasci-vrednog-25-milijardi-dolara) — Russian Money Behind Trump's Energy Plan? Resignations over $25 Billion Alaska Project
- [Unknown](https://hvylya.net/news/329529-ft-top-menedzhery-amerikanskogo-gazovogo-proekta-na-alyaske-massovo-ushli-iz-za-rossiyskogo-novateka) — FT: The Top Managers of the US Gas Project in Alaska Left Massively because of the Russian Novatack
- [Life.ru](https://life.ru/p/terminal-v-obmen-na-snyatie-sanktsiy-ft-uznala-o-vozmozhnoy-sdelke-rossii-i) — Terminal in Exchange for Lifting the Sanctions: FT Learned About a Possible US-Russian Deal of $25 Billion.
- [antena3.ro](https://antena3.ro/externe/rusii-controleaza-in-secret-un-proiect-strategic-din-alaska-witkoff-si-putin-au-negociat-achizitia-808516.html) — The Russians Secretly Control a Strategic Project in Alaska. Witkoff and Putin Negotiated the Acquisition
- [the deep dive](https://thedeepdive.ca/former-ceo-disputes-publicly-announced-trump-allys-investment-in-alaska-lng-venture) — Former CEO Disputes Publicly Announced Trump Ally’s Investment in Alaska LNG Venture
- [svtv.org](https://svtv.org/news/2026-10-24/rossiiskii-novatek-taino-kontroliruet) — Russian Novatek Secretly Controls the Alaska Gas Terminal Project
- [IndexHR](https://index.hr/vijesti/clanak/ft-ruska-tvrtka-tajno-financirala-plinski-projekt-u-sadu/2849298.aspx) — FT: Russian Company Secretly Financed Gas Project in the US
- [pmo.ee](https://pmo.ee/8570777) — Media: Russia's Novatek Finances LNG Project in Alaska and Actually Determines Its Strategy
- [Agenparl](https://agenparl.eu/2026/10/24/alaska-finanziamenti-russi-occulti-nel-progetto-del-gas-da-25-miliardi-le-accuse-a-novatek) — Alaska, Hidden Russian Funding in the 25 Billion Gas Project: the Accusations in Novatek
- [Eurasia Business News](https://eurasiabusinessnews.com/2026/10/24/polar-train-lng-executives-quit-over-alleged-russian-control-of-25-billion-alaska-project) — Polar Train LNG Executives Quit Over Alleged Russian Control of $25 Billion Alaska Project
- [BNR Nieuwsradio](https://bnr.nl/nieuws/internationaal/10614225/geheime-russische-financiering-voor-amerikaanse-lng-project-in-alaska) — Secret Russian Funding for American LNG Project in Alaska
- [Joe.My.God.](https://joemygod.com/2026/10/nyt-kremlin-is-secretly-funding-alaska-energy-project) — NYT: Kremlin Is Secretly Funding Alaska Energy Project
- [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/usa/2026/10/24/2691600.html) — NOVATEK agreed to grant Abu Dhabi-based Tech Wave Industrial Projects Management the right to use its technologies in Alaska, and also signed a memorandum of understanding with Polar Train in April
- [Mediazona](https://zona.media/news/2026/10/24/polar-lng) — NYT and FT: The Head of the American Natural Gas Company in Alaska Learned that the Project Was Funded by Novatek and Retired
- [United24](https://united24media.com/world/sanctioned-russian-giant-allegedly-controlled-25b-alaska-gas-project-linked-to-trump-jrs-friend-23774) — Sanctioned Russian Giant Allegedly Controlled $25B Alaska Gas Project Linked to Trump Jr.’s Friend
- [1news.com.ua](https://1news.com.ua/svit/novatek-yak-rosijska-kompaniya-tayemno-investuvala-25-mlrd-u-proekt-na-alyastsi-v-ssha.html) — Novatek: How a Russian Company Secretly Invested $25 Billion in a Project in Alaska in the United States
- [ТСН.ua](https://tsn.ua/svit/kompaniiu-druha-putina-zapidozryly-v-tayemnomu-finansuvanni-hazovoho-proyektu-v-ssha-ft-3198679.html) — Putin's Friend's Company Was Suspected of Secretly Financing a Gas Project in the United States
- [alborsaanews.com](https://alborsaanews.com/2026/10/24/2001478) — Russia's Sanctioned Novatek Is Funding a US Liquefied Natural Gas Project - Al-Borsa Newspaper
- [L'Informateur.](https://qactus.fr/2026/10/24/usa-washington-accuse-novatek-financement) — USA: Washington Accuses Novatek of Secret Financing of Alaska's LNG Project – Essential Information 2026
- [istories.media](https://istories.media/news/2026/10/24/ssha-i-rossiya-obsuzhdali-snyatie-sanktsiy-s-arktik-spg-2-v-obmen-na-uchastie-novateka-v-gazovom-proekte-na-alyaske) — The US and Russia Discussed the Lifting of Sanctions with the CNG-2 Arctic in Exchange for Novatek's Participation in the Alaska Gas Project.
- [asiae.co.kr](https://asiae.co.kr/article/2026102417363888969) — Russia's Novatek, Under U.S. Sanctions, Funds Alaska LNG project... Hanwha Ocean Vessels Also Mentioned
- [The Print](https://theprint.in/world/alaska-lng-export-terminal-got-funding-from-russias-sanctioned-novatek-before-us-nod-ft-report/3080409) — Alaska LNG export terminal got funding from Russia’s sanctioned Novatek before US nod—FT report
- [Unknown](https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2026/10/24/nyt-i-ft-novatek-skrytno-finansiroval-gazovyi-proekt-na-aliaske-stoimostiu-25-mlrd-news) — NYT and FT: Novatek Secretly Financed a $25 Billion Alaska Gas Project
- [연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency](https://yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261024039200009) — "Russia Secretly Funds Alaska LNG Development Project From 'Sanctioned Company'" <NYT>
- [aripaev.ee](https://aripaev.ee/uudised/2026/10/24/ft-venemaa-juhtis-ja-rahastas-salaja-usa-gaasiprojekti) — FT: Russia Secretly Managed and Financed US Gas Project
- [telex.hu](https://telex.hu/gazdasag/2026/10/24/lemondott-egy-alaszkai-gazceg-vezetese-mert-azt-allitjak-hogy-a-hatterbol-oroszok-penzelik-a-projektjuket) — The Entire Management of an American Gas Company Has Resigned After They Claim that Russians Are Secretly Financing Their Project From Behind the Scenes.
- [vz.lt](https://vz.lt/verslo-aplinka/2026/10/24/ft-jav-suskystintu-gamtiniu-duju-projekta-aliaskoje-finansavo-rusijos-novatek-591827) — FT: US LNG Project in Alaska Financed by Russia's Novatek
- [juneauindependent.com](https://juneauindependent.com/post/hidden-financing-for-alaska-natural-gas-project-emerges-in-us-talks-with-kremlin) — Hidden financing for Alaska natural gas project emerges in US talks with Kremlin
- [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/russia-alaska-gas) — Whistleblower CEO quits over hidden Russian cash behind gas deal in Trump peace talks: NYT
- [INTELLINEWS](https://intelli.news/2026/10/24/in-u-s-gas-talks-with-kremlin-hidden-financing-for-alaska-project-emerges) — In U.S. Gas Talks With Kremlin, Hidden Financing for Alaska Project Emerges
- [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/394cb1e8d53746b4) — US executives quit $25bn gas venture over claims of secret Russian control

## Questions

**Why did former CEO Joel Riddle resign from Polar Train LNG?**

Joel Riddle resigned from Polar Train LNG due to suspicions that the Russian energy giant Novatek was secretly financing and directing the $25 billion Alaska project. He stated he discovered Novatek's involvement before US authorities approved negotiations with the Russian company.

**What is Polar Train LNG's explanation for the allegations?**

Polar Train LNG rejected the accusations, stating that former CEO Joel Riddle was a disgruntled employee who was fired. The company asserted that Tech Wave Industrial Projects Management provided financing and that the project is proceeding in compliance with US laws and is seeking American investors.

**What is Novatek's confirmed involvement in the project?**

Novatek confirmed it granted Tech Wave Industrial Projects Management the right to use its technology in Alaska and signed a memorandum of understanding with Polar Train LNG in April. Polar Train LNG stated that Tech Wave provided financing and that the company is seeking American investors and partners.

**What is the US Treasury Department's stance on the matter?**

The US Treasury Department stated that it does not comment on potential sanctions violations but takes them very seriously. This indicates the department is aware of such allegations and their potential implications regarding sanctions.

---

MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/ex-ceo-claims-russian-firm-financed-alaska-lng-project. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Ex-CEO Claims Russian Firm Financed Alaska LNG Project", https://mediabias.news/business/ex-ceo-claims-russian-firm-financed-alaska-lng-project