South Korea is investigating fuel transports destined for Russia. The nation will initiate legal proceedings should fuel shipments from its ports to Russia contravene domestic law.
Analysis from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Finnish thinktank, found that over 176,000 tonnes of fuel, primarily diesel, were loaded at South Korean ports. These movements involved seven tankers making fourteen voyages to Russia’s far east across July and August.
Of these vessels, three were reportedly subject to UK and EU sanctions. Isaac Levi, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), stated that the trade undermines the sanctions regime and South Korea’s support for Ukraine.
Russia's refinery throughput actually dropped in June to its lowest point in more than two decades. The refined petroleum products involved were not covered by South Korea’s export controls concerning Russia.
Furthermore, the loading of refined petroleum products at South Korean ports does not constitute a violation of domestic law, according to one claim. Confirmation regarding the export of fuel originating in South Korea, such as diesel, remains unconfirmed.
No diesel, aviation fuel, or motor petrol had been exported from South Korea to Russia via customs clearance, according to another claim. The three sanctioned tankers informed South Korean authorities that their intended destinations were Japan or Singapore before proceeding to Vladivostok.
The Russian-flagged Aram Khachaturian loaded at Ulsan on three separate occasions during July and August, each time citing a destination other than Russia before sailing there. An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the shipments stood in “sharp contrast” to South Korea’s sanctions policies.
South Korea’s presidential office countered these remarks, stating they were “contrary to fact and inappropriate”. Ukraine’s foreign ministry reportedly raised the issue of fuel shipments with Seoul through private diplomatic channels, requesting an explanation.
Heorhii Tykhyi confirmed that Kyiv possesses its own data concerning this activity.
