Brief
South Korean ports used for diesel shipments to Russia amid Ukraine war
Guardian data reveal seven tankers loaded at South Korean ports and made 14 trips to Russia’s Far East, raising questions about sanctions enforcement.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Port records and ship‑tracking data examined by the Guardian show that in July and August 2026 more than 176,000 tonnes of fuel, mainly diesel, were loaded at South Korean ports and shipped to Russia via fourteen voyages on seven tankers.
What happened
Seven tankers departed from ports such as Ulsan, carrying diesel to Russia’s far‑east ports, including Vladivostok. Three of the vessels were subject to UK and EU sanctions. One tanker performed a ship‑to‑ship transfer in South Korean waters, a practice that can hide the cargo’s origin. The largest carrier, the sanctioned vessel Layla, made two trips – leaving Ulsan on 19 July and 10 August – and moved a total of 57,000 tonnes of diesel. On its second voyage the ship listed Japan as its destination, though it ultimately sailed to Vladivostok. Another sanctioned, Russian‑flagged tanker, Astoria, loaded about 11,000 tonnes at Ulsan on 1 August, declared Japan as its destination, and then proceeded to Vladivostok.
What the reports add
The Guardian’s analysis notes that the fuel trade does not appear to breach South Korean law, as the country’s export controls focus on industrial machinery, electronics and vehicles rather than fuel. However, the shipments involve vessels under sanctions imposed by Western allies, highlighting a gap between legal restrictions and enforcement.
What was said
"It is shocking that EU‑sanctioned tankers loaded fuel at South Korean ports and carried it to Russia," said Isaac Levi, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, as quoted by the Guardian.
How it came about
Seoul has provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid, non‑lethal military equipment and $2.3 billion in loans, while avoiding the supply of lethal weapons. At the same time, Moscow has sought to improve trade ties with South Korea. The fuel shipments occur against this backdrop of diplomatic balancing, and follow earlier tensions such as South Korea’s dispute with Ukraine over the secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, reported by Felo News on 29 September 2026.
Key facts
- Over 176,000 tonnes of diesel were loaded at South Korean ports in July‑August 2026 and shipped to Russia. (theguardian.com)
- Three of the seven tankers used were under UK and EU sanctions. (theguardian.com)
- The sanctioned tanker Layla carried 57,000 tonnes of diesel on two voyages from Ulsan. (theguardian.com)
- The shipments do not appear to breach South Korean law, which focuses export controls on machinery, electronics and vehicles. (theguardian.com)
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “Oil from South Korea being shipped to Russia as Ukraine war grinds on”
