Guardian analysis of port records and ship-tracking data reveals that South Korea shipped over 176,000 tonnes of fuel to Russian ports during July and August, using sanctioned tankers to reach Russia's far east.
The fuel shipments, loaded at several South Korean ports, traveled on seven tankers making 14 voyages to Russian destinations. The cargo consisted mostly of diesel, according to the analysis.
An expert quoted in reporting said the shipments "undermine" Seoul's stated public support for Ukraine as Russia continues military operations there.
The use of sanctioned tankers to move the fuel represents a potential circumvention of Western restrictions designed to limit Moscow's access to energy supplies. The Guardian's investigation tracked individual vessel movements and examined port loading records to identify the shipments.
South Korea has officially supported Ukraine and aligned with Western countries on Russia policy, making the fuel sales notable from a geopolitical standpoint. The shipments occurred as Russia faces sustained supply pressures from its invasion of Ukraine.
The analysis does not detail the commercial arrangement behind the sales, the companies involved in arranging the shipments, or Seoul's formal response to the findings. It also does not specify which sanctions apply to the tankers used or what legal frameworks govern the fuel trade between South Korea and Russia.