Amid ongoing attacks from Ukraine, Russia has made an unusual move by importing refined oil products from South Korea, Reuters reported on August 7.
According to an analysis by shipping data firm Kpler and energy market analytics company Vortexa, at least two short-range tankers carrying a total of 30,000 tons of refined oil products departed from Ulsan Port and are headed to Russia's Far East.
Sources indicate that one of the tankers is loaded with diesel and jet fuel. One of the vessels has already arrived in Russia but has not yet unloaded its cargo.
Reuters noted that it is quite rare for Russia to import refined oil products from South Korea. The last recorded instance was in February 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Russia imported approximately 22,000 barrels of jet fuel from South Korea.
Russia is the world's second-largest oil producer and a major exporter of diesel. However, recent long-range drone attacks by Ukraine on Russian refining facilities have disrupted operations, forcing Russia to seek some refined products from abroad.
Earlier, the Russian government announced a ban on diesel and gasoline exports starting August 8, which was extended last week until January 2024. This measure is seen as an effort to stabilize domestic supply and prevent fuel shortages during the recovery period of refining facilities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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