South Korea Says Alleged Russia Fuel Shipments Not Banned
South Korea said alleged shipments of diesel to Russia did not violate its export controls, while stressing that the fuel’s origin remains under investigation. The dispute has further strained Seoul-Kyiv ties amid tensions over Ukraine’s handling of captured North Korean soldiers.
South Korea stated on Thursday that alleged shipments of diesel fuel intended to address Russian fuel shortages are not subject to export restrictions, adding the fuel's origin is still under investigation. Earlier this week, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that over 176,000 tonnes of fuel, primarily diesel, were shipped from South Korea to Russia in July and August, based on port records and ship-tracking data.
This revelation has strained the already tense diplomatic relations between Seoul and Kyiv, as South Korea has provided financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia. The issue has added pressure to the diplomatic tensions between the two countries. South Korea and Russia have a long-standing relationship, with Pyongyang becoming a key ally of the Kremlin, sending troops to support Moscow's war effort in return for economic benefits and military technology.
An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that the alleged diesel shipments were "in sharp contrast" to South Korea's sanctions policies, which Seoul dismissed as "factually incorrect" and "inappropriate." South Korea's foreign ministry stated that diesel, even if originating in South Korea, would not violate export bans, noting that exports to Russia have been more than halved since the war's inception.
The ministry also said it was conducting further checks on the vessels' routes to determine if any domestic laws had been breached.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
