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Why South Korea Is Supplying 1.76 Lakh Tonnes of Diesel to Russia
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News18•06-10-2026, 19:24
Why South Korea Is Supplying 1.76 Lakh Tonnes of Diesel to Russia
- •Reports reveal that South Korean ports supplied over 176,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel, to Russia in July and August.
- •Seven tankers made 14 trips between South Korea and Russia, including ships subject to Western and UK sanctions.
- •Some vessels used deceptive tactics, initially declaring destinations in Japan before sailing directly to Russia's Vladivostok port.
- •Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries reduced domestic production by 30 percent, forcing Russia to increase fuel imports.
- •South Korea emerged as Russia's second-largest maritime fuel supplier after India, though the exports reportedly did not violate local laws.
Key Questions Answered
Ukrainian drone attacks and strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have severely disrupted operations at multiple domestic refineries, causing refinery output and diesel production to hit multi-year lows and forcing Russia to rely on imports.
In July and August 2026, South Korean ports shipped more than 176,000 tonnes of fuel to Russia, with South Korea alone supplying about 112,000 tonnes in August to become Russia's second-largest seaborne supplier after India.
According to reports, these fuel shipments do not appear to violate South Korea's own laws because its trade restrictions against Russia primarily target industrial machinery, electronics, and vehicles rather than fuel exports.
