Seoul Probes Russia-Bound Fuel Cargoes Carried by Sanctioned Tankers
A Guardian investigation traced more than 176,000 metric tons of fuel from South Korean ports to Russia. Seoul is reviewing tanker routes and cargo declarations, saying the loadings themselves did not violate domestic law.
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South Korea has warned it will pursue legal action if an inquiry into fuel shipments from its ports to Russia finds domestic violations, after reports said sanctioned tankers carried some of the cargoes.
The foreign and trade ministries and customs service said they were reviewing information published by the Guardian.
Authorities will examine shipping routes, declared destinations and the reasons vessels changed course.
Seoul nevertheless said the fuel loadings themselves were lawful. Refined petroleum products fall outside its export restrictions on Russia, which primarily cover machinery, electronics and vehicles.
Cargoes and Declarations Under Review
The Guardian’s analysis of port records and vessel-tracking data identified more than 176,000 metric tons of fuel loaded at South Korean ports during July and August.
Seven tankers transported the cargoes, predominantly diesel, on 14 voyages to Russia’s far east.
Three vessels were subject to U.K. and EU sanctions.
One collected about 26,000 metric tons through a ship-to-ship transfer near Yeosu rather than loading at a terminal.
Seoul said it had not established whether the shipments contained South Korean-origin fuel.
It also said customs records showed no cleared exports of diesel, aviation fuel or gasoline to Russia.
The government cautioned that a vessel’s departure from its declared destination was insufficient by itself to establish suspected false reporting.
Its joint statement said that “if the verification establishes that our laws and regulations have been violated, it plans to act in accordance with the law.”
Sanctioned Vessels Carried Diesel
The Layla, a sanctioned tanker, transported 57,000 metric tons of diesel from Ulsan to Vladivostok across two voyages.
It declared Vladivostok as its destination for the July departure but listed Niigata, Japan, before its August journey.
The Astoria, also under sanctions, loaded nearly 11,000 metric tons at Ulsan on August 1. It declared Japan as its destination before heading to Vladivostok.
The third sanctioned vessel, the Chongchon, received its cargo from the unsanctioned Celeste I near Yeosu. It declared Singapore before sailing to the Russian port.
The unsanctioned, Russian-flagged Aram Khachaturian made three trips from Ulsan during the same period, each time listing a destination outside Russia before sailing there.
Publicly available South Korean port records do not identify the fuel’s owners or sellers.
Russia’s Fuel Shortfall
The shipments coincided with mounting pressure on Russia’s refining industry from Ukrainian drone attacks.
According to the International Energy Agency, June refinery throughput reached its lowest level in more than two decades, while diesel production was nearly 30% below the previous year.
Kpler data analyzed by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air showed Russia imported 368,000 metric tons of petroleum products by sea in August.
That was more than seven times July’s volume and the largest monthly total since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
South Korean ports accounted for 112,000 metric tons, or 31%, of August’s shipments, placing the country behind only India.
Isaac Levi, a CREA analyst, said the trade “undermines the sanctions regime and South Korea’s support for Ukraine.”
Relations With Kyiv Strained
Ukraine has sought an explanation through diplomatic channels. Foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Kyiv also held its own information on the shipments.
South Korea’s presidential office rejected criticism from an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, describing the remarks as inaccurate and inappropriate.
Seoul announced on Thursday that it would recall its ambassador to Ukraine.
Relations were already strained by Zelensky’s disclosure that North Korean prisoners of war had been transferred to South Korea, an arrangement Seoul said was intended to remain confidential.
The foreign ministry said consultations with Ukraine would continue, with the aim of resolving outstanding disputes amicably.
Ahmet Koçak
Ahmet Koçak is a news editor at Clash Report based in Istanbul. He previously served as Deputy Managing Editor at Türkiye Today, helping launch the digital news platform in 2023, and spent three years as Senior Editor at Daily Sabah. His work focuses on breaking news, geopolitics, international affairs, and digital journalism.
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