Oil from South Korea being shipped to Russia as Ukraine war grinds on
Summary
South Korea has shipped over 176,000 tonnes of oil, mainly diesel, to Russia through tankers, some of which are under western sanctions. This trade comes amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and challenges South Korea’s public support for Ukraine while balancing relations with Russia.Key Facts
- In July and August, seven tankers carried oil from South Korean ports to Russia’s Far East in 14 trips.
- Three of these tankers are under sanctions by the UK and EU, but still loaded fuel at South Korean ports.
- One tanker used ship-to-ship transfers in South Korean waters to hide the cargo’s origin.
- South Korea has supplied humanitarian aid and non-lethal military gear to Ukraine but does not send weapons.
- The oil shipments do not clearly violate South Korean laws, which mainly restrict exports like machinery and electronics to Russia.
- Russia’s oil refining has been hurt by Ukrainian attacks, reducing its own fuel production significantly.
- Imported fuel helps Russia continue its military efforts in Ukraine, with Russian companies under sanctions among the buyers.
- South Korea aims to keep good relations with both Russia and its western allies, creating a complex situation.
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