Focus – Kyiv criticises Seoul over fuel supplies to Russia

KYIV, 6 October /ATSH-AFP/ – Ukraine on Tuesday criticised South Korea over supplies of petroleum products to Russia, claiming that these shipments have helped Moscow offset the losses in refining capacity caused by Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.

According to data published by the British newspaper The Guardian, around 176,000 tonnes of petroleum products were transported via South Korea to Russia during the months of July and August.

The data are based on port records and ship-tracking systems.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the sanctions adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that these shipments are in clear contradiction with Seoul’s sanctions policy.

According to him, the supplies began precisely when the Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries reduced processing capacities and caused fuel shortages in Russia.

“Imports from South Korea have effectively helped Russia mitigate the consequences of the loss of its own refining capacities,” Vlasiuk argued.

He also claimed that supplies from South Korea accounted for around 31% of Russian fuel imports in August.

According to him, three of the seven tankers used to transport the petroleum products were already subject to Western sanctions.

The issue comes at a moment when relations between Kyiv and Seoul have become strained.

Last month, Zelensky revealed during a speech at the UN that two North Korean soldiers, captured while fighting alongside Russian forces, had been sent to South Korea.

Seoul reacted by demanding an apology from Ukraine and summoning the Ukrainian ambassador, accusing Kyiv of violating a confidentiality agreement.

South Korea also warned that it could take “other measures” if Ukraine did not formally apologise.