Russian tankers carrying fuel have arrived in Australia despite existing sanctions, according to Ukrainian World Congress.
The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations (AFUO) has called on the government to close the loophole that allows the import of petroleum products made from Russian crude oil. The statement followed the arrival at the port of Perth of the tanker Torm Emilie, which delivered about 69,000 tons of diesel fuel produced at Indian refineries from Russian crude.
AFUO head Kateryna Argyru emphasized that every day Australian oil dollars continue flowing to the Kremlin, it undermines Western values and contributes to the loss of lives. She noted that such trade fuels Russia’s military machine, strengthens the country’s economy, weakens global sanctions, and prolongs Ukraine’s suffering.
The organization is demanding that the Australian government fully ban the import of fuel produced from Russian crude, implement transparent supply chain controls, and tighten accountability for violators. According to AFUO, since February 2023 Australia has transferred over $2 billion USD to Russia through payments for imported petroleum products—exceeding the $1.5 billion allocated by Canberra to aid Ukraine.
Argyru urged Australian authorities to follow the European Union’s example, which from January 2026 will ban the import of petroleum products made from Russian crude in third countries. She stressed that Australia cannot claim to support Ukraine while continuing to facilitate the sale of Russian oil through loopholes.
