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South Korea Ships Fuel to Russia Amid Ukraine War
Confirmed
In Short: South Korea has shipped over 150,000 tonnes of fuel to Russia using sanctioned tankers, raising concerns over Seoul's support for Ukraine.
The Guardian reports that over 150,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel, was shipped from South Korea to Russia via sanctioned tankers in July and August.
The shipments involved seven tankers making 14 voyages to Russia’s far east, according to an analysis of port records and ship-tracking data.
Isaac Levi, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), criticized the move, stating, “It is shocking that EU-sanctioned tankers loaded fuel at South Korean ports and carried it to Russia.”
Levi added, “This undermines the sanctions regime and South Korea’s support for Ukraine.” Seoul has provided humanitarian aid and non-lethal military supplies to Ukraine, pledging $2.3 billion in support, mostly in loans.
South Korea has long sought to balance its support for Ukraine with its desire to improve ties with Russia. Moscow has signaled interest in restoring relations with South Korea, including trade ties.
While the fuel trade does not appear to breach South Korean law, it risks making Seoul look like a weak link in western efforts to pressure Russia.
The shipments come amid tensions over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, which Seoul says was meant to remain secret.
Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil facilities, leading Russia to impose restrictions on its own fuel exports. Russia’s fuel oil exports fell to 591,000 barrels a day in August, down from the average 860,000 bpd in 2025.
Ukraine’s motive in attacking Russia’s energy facilities is to increase domestic pressure on the Russian president, according to Beauchamp, a commentator.
President Donald Trump has called for an end to the war, arguing that Russia has 'lost control' of its diesel industry due to the ongoing fighting with Ukraine.
What this adds
It is unclear who owned or sold the fuel, as South Korean port records do not show this information.
The fuel trade involves vessels sanctioned by some of Seoul’s western partners, but it does not breach South Korean law.
South Korea’s measures against Russia mainly rely on export controls on goods such as industrial machinery, electronics, and vehicles.
Background
Ukraine's announcement of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea has angered Seoul, leading to demands for an apology and explanation.
What's confirmed
- The Guardian reports that over 150,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel, was shipped from South Korea to Russia via sanctioned tankers in July and August.
- The shipments involved seven tankers making 14 voyages to Russia’s far east, according to an analysis of port records and ship-tracking data.
- Levi added, “This undermines the sanctions regime and South Korea’s support for Ukraine.” Seoul has provided humanitarian aid and non-lethal military supplies to Ukraine, pledging $2.3 billion in support, mostly in loans.
- South Korea has long sought to balance its support for Ukraine with its desire to improve ties with Russia. Moscow has signaled interest in restoring relations with South Korea, including trade ties.
- While the fuel trade does not appear to breach South Korean law, it risks making Seoul look like a weak link in western efforts to pressure Russia.
- The shipments come amid tensions over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, which Seoul says was meant to remain secret.
- Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil facilities, leading Russia to impose restrictions on its own fuel exports. Russia’s fuel oil exports fell to 591,000 barrels a day in August, down from the average 860,000 bpd in 2025.
- Ukraine’s motive in attacking Russia’s energy facilities is to increase domestic pressure on the Russian president, according to Beauchamp, a commentator.
- President Donald Trump has called for an end to the war, arguing that Russia has 'lost control' of its diesel industry due to the ongoing fighting with Ukraine.
What's still developing
- South Korea’s own measures against Russia rely mainly on export controls on goods such as industrial machinery, electronics and vehicles.
- US President Donald Trump on Sunday asked Ukraine to stop hitting Russian diesel refineries, blaming the attacks for creating a diesel shortage that he said was “hurting the world”.
- “Mr. Zelenskyy has to do one thing: He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump said.
- Russia and Ukraine remain locked in an intensifying missile war, with Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities squeezing Moscow’s oil output, despite Russia being one of the world’s largest oil producers.
- “There are plenty of other targets,” arguing that the global diesel shortage stems from the Russia-Ukraine war.
Sources
- The Guardianlink
- Al Jazeeralink
- Justthenewslink
- Ukrinformlink
- Newindianexpresslink
- Euromaidanpresslink
- Kyivpostlink
- Kyivindependentlink
- Thedefensewatchlink
- Dtnextlink
- PBSlink
- Warpbeatlink
- Huffingtonpostlink
- WarpBeat — background on Ukraine's Transfer of North Korean POWs Angers South Korea link
- Newsreel — video link