South Korea Rejects Ukrainian Claim That Fuel Shipments Eased Russia’s Fuel Crisis

South Korea has rejected a Ukrainian claim that fuel shipped from South Korean ports helped Russia deal with a fuel shortage caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on its oil refineries.

South Korean presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the claim was “inaccurate and inappropriate”. She said Seoul had consistently enforced sanctions and export controls against Russia in coordination with the international community since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Ukraine claims that over 176,000 tonnes of petroleum products were shipped from South Korean ports to Russia in July and August.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukraine’s sanctions commissioner, said the shipments made up 31% of Russia’s fuel imports in August and helped make up for reduced refining capacity after Ukrainian drone attacks.

South Korea is now checking the reported shipments and whether they involved any export-control issues.

Vlasiuk said the shipments began when Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries were cutting processing volumes and causing fuel shortages in Russia.

He said the imports helped Russia offset the loss of part of its domestic refining capacity, based on available data and reports.

The Guardian reported on Tuesday that it had examined port records and ship-tracking data showing that the fuel was loaded at South Korean ports onto seven tankers.

The vessels made 14 voyages to Russia’s Far East in July and August. Some of the tankers were under UK and European Union sanctions.

Per reports, it was not clear who owned or sold the fuel.

Vlasiuk cited the same figures in his comments and said the shipments were at odds with South Korea’s sanctions policy towards Russia.

Kang said the South Korean government was checking the facts and looking into possible export-control issues. She said Seoul would take action if any problems were found.

She also asked Ukraine not to make public statements that could give a wrong impression of South Korea’s policies or harm its international reputation before the facts had been checked.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it supports international efforts to end the war in Ukraine and achieve a peaceful recovery.

The ministry said South Korea had expanded its export controls against Russia beyond strategic goods. The controls also cover non-strategic goods that could be diverted for military use.

A report from South Korea’s presidential National Security Office said the number of such controlled products rose from 57 in March 2022 to 1,402 in June 2024.

Diesel, gasoline and jet fuel are not on that list.

A National Security Office official said government trade figures showed that South Korea had not exported diesel, gasoline or jet fuel to Russia between 2025 and August this year.

The same report said South Korean exports to Russia fell from $10 billion in 2021 to $4 billion in 2025, a drop of 60%.

References: Reuters, ABC News