Ukraine’s Refinery Strikes Force Russia to Import Fuel From South Korea

Traders shipped nearly 30,000 metric tons of refined fuel from South Korea to Russia in late July as Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure increased demand for imports, according to Reuters on August 7.

The shipments were identified using ship-tracking data from Kpler and Vortexa, along with information from a trade source.

At least two short-range tankers loaded refined products from storage tanks at the South Korean port of Ulsan before sailing for Russia’s Far East. One vessel had already arrived in Russia but had not yet discharged its cargo when Reuters published its report.

Two sources familiar with the shipments said the cargo included diesel, while one said it also contained jet fuel.

South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy declined to comment on the shipments, while Russia’s Energy Ministry did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

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The trade is unusual for Russia, which is normally one of the world’s largest exporters of refined petroleum products, the outlet noted.

Reuters linked the imports to growing pressure on Russia’s refining sector following repeated Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and fuel infrastructure. Kyiv stated that its strikes are intended to reduce the resources available to sustain Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Moscow has also imposed restrictions on the export of gasoline, diesel, and other refined fuels to protect domestic supplies. Reuters reported that some restrictions are expected to ease from September 1, while broader controls remain in place into early 2027.

The import demand traces directly to Ukraine's sustained campaign against Russia's refining base. In early July, a Ukrainian drone strike halted operations at the Omsk refinery, Russia's largest and its top gasoline producer. The strike damaged a primary crude distillation unit and forced the plant to suspend gasoline and diesel sales on the Saint Petersburg exchange.

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