** Citi expects Australia's Paladin Energy to benefit from Kremlin's ban on uranium exports to the U.S. as spot prices for uranium are showing a gradual uptick

** Brokerage keeps "Buy" rating on PDN with PT of A$11.50

** Russia, accounting for over 40% of the global uranium market, on Friday announced a temporary export ban to the U.S., potentially disrupting U.S. nuclear fuel supplies, which have traditionally relied on Russia

** Brokerage says the disruption could force the U.S. to either use reserves or pay more for alternative imports

** Adds that uranium spot prices have moved from ~$75 per pound last week to now ~$82 per pound, as of Friday

** Eight analysts rate the stock "buy" or higher; their median PT is A$12.72 – LSEG data

** Stock down ~26% so far this year, as of the last close

(Reporting by Kumar Tanishk in Bengaluru; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

((Tanishk.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com;))