More than 176,000 Tonnes of Fuel Shipped from South Korea to Russia, Including on Sanctioned Tankers – The Guardian

In July and August 2026, more than 176,000 tonnes of fuel were shipped from South Korean ports to Russia.

The Guardian reported this, citing port documents and vessel-tracking data.

Most of the shipments were diesel fuel.

Three of the seven tankers involved in the shipments are under UK and European Union sanctions.

Another tanker received its cargo through a ship-to-ship transfer in South Korean territorial waters.

The tanker Layla transported the largest amount of fuel. In July and August, it made two trips from Ulsan to Vladivostok, delivering about 57,000 tonnes of diesel fuel.

Another sanctioned tanker, Astoria, loaded nearly 11,000 tonnes of fuel in Ulsan. It listed Japan as its destination but ultimately arrived in Vladivostok.

The tanker Chongchon received about 26,000 tonnes of fuel from the vessel Celeste I in a ship-to-ship transfer at an anchorage near the port of Yeosu. It then sailed to Vladivostok.

The shipments come as the global fuel market faces shortages and Russia’s oil-refining industry struggles with ongoing problems.

In August 2026, Russia imported 368,000 tonnes of petroleum products by sea – more than seven times the amount imported in July and the largest monthly volume since the start of the full-scale invasion. South Korea accounted for 112,000 tonnes, or 31% of the total.

These shipments took place amid Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russia’s oil infrastructure and maritime logistics.

In July, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces launched Operation “MoLoChKa,” aimed at targeting vessels from Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and disrupting its oil logistics in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. Between July 6 and August 8 alone, Ukrainian forces reported striking 218 vessels.