South Korea is investigating whether fuel shipments from its ports to Russia violated domestic laws. This response follows a report that highlighted significant fuel transfers to Russia's far east.
The South Korean government, through its foreign and trade ministries and customs service, stated it is scrutinizing additional data related to the shipments. If any legal breaches are identified, the government intends to enforce the law accordingly.
Over 176,000 tonnes of fuel, primarily diesel, were loaded onto seven tankers in July and August. These tankers completed 14 voyages to Russia, with three of them under UK and EU sanctions. Notably, one tanker acquired approximately 26,000 tonnes.
Isaac Levi, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, commented that this trade undermines the sanctions regime and South Korea's support for Ukraine. The International Energy Agency reported that Russia's oil refining capabilities have been severely impacted by Ukrainian drone strikes, leading to a significant drop in diesel output.
Seoul's statement clarified that the refined petroleum products in question were not subject to South Korea's export controls on Russia, which mainly cover industrial machinery, electronics, and vehicles. The government emphasized that the loading of fuel at South Korean ports does not inherently breach domestic law.
However, the origin of the fuel remains uncertain, as South Korean port records do not publicly disclose ownership or sales details. The government also noted that deviations in a vessel's route from its declared destination do not automatically imply false declaration of destination.
Three of the sanctioned tankers had declared destinations of Japan or Singapore before heading to Vladivostok. Meanwhile, the Russian-flagged Aram Khachaturian, not under western sanctions, loaded fuel at Ulsan multiple times, each time declaring a destination other than Russia before proceeding there.
An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked that these shipments starkly contrast with South Korea's sanctions policies. In response, South Korea's presidential office labeled these comments as inaccurate and inappropriate, urging Ukraine to avoid public statements that could harm South Korea's international standing.
Ukraine's foreign ministry reportedly addressed the fuel shipments with Seoul through diplomatic channels, seeking clarification. Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi indicated that Kyiv also possesses its own data regarding such activities.
