South Korea’s presidential office has dismissed a Ukrainian report alleging that Russia imported petroleum products from South Korean ports, calling the accusation inappropriate.
Ukraine’s top sanctions official, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said on Tuesday that the shipments had eased the impact of a fuel crisis caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries.
His remarks followed a report by The Guardian that port records and ship-tracking data showed fuel had been loaded at South Korean ports onto seven tankers, including vessels under British and EU sanctions.
The presidential office said on Wednesday that South Korea had “consistently enforced sanctions and export controls against Russia in close coordination with the international community” since Moscow launched its offensive against Ukraine.
Seoul added that it was examining the facts and checking for possible export control violations, and would take necessary measures if any problems were confirmed.
South Korea-Ukraine row
The latest controversy follows a diplomatic row between Ukraine and South Korea over the fate of North Korean prisoners of war.
The issue came to a head last week when South Korean President Lee Jae-myung criticised Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy for revealing a secret deal in which Ukraine handed over captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul.
South Korea's presidential office demanded an apology from Ukraine for denying there was an agreement to keep the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war confidential.
Korean lawmaker Yoo Yeong-ha said Zelenskyy’s disclosure was intended to build public support in South Korea for supplying weapons and other assistance to Ukraine.
