Sanctioned Russian tankers carried South Korean fuel to Russia's far east, Guardian reports

South Korean ports supplied more than 176,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel, to Russian tankers in July and August 2026, according to a Guardian investigation reported by the Kyiv Independent. The Guardian says seven Russian tankers, three of them under UK and EU sanctions, made 14 round trips between Russia's far-eastern ports and South Korea, and one cargo was loaded by ship-to-ship transfer outside South Korean ports. The findings drew on port records and ship-tracking data. According to the Guardian, the shipments do not appear to breach South Korean law, as Seoul's export controls on Russia cover electronics, machinery and vehicles. South Korea's foreign ministry did not comment directly, saying it supports international efforts to end the war.

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