Russia has reportedly supplied North Korea with more than a million barrels of oil since March 2024, according to an analysis of satellite imagery conducted by the UK-based Open Source Centre, a non-profit research group.

The oil shipments are believed to be payment for weapons and troops provided by Pyongyang to support Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine, experts and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy have told the BBC. These exchanges violate United Nations sanctions, which restrict oil sales to North Korea in an effort to curb its nuclear weapons program.

Exclusive satellite images shared with the BBC reveal over a dozen North Korean oil tankers docking at a terminal in Russia’s Far East on 43 separate occasions over the past eight months. Further imagery shows the tankers arriving empty and departing nearly full.

North Korea, uniquely barred from purchasing oil on the open market, is subject to UN sanctions that cap its annual petroleum imports at 500,000 barrels—far below its estimated needs. The reported shipments significantly exceed this limit.

The Russian foreign ministry has not responded to requests for comment.

The first oil transfer tracked by the Open Source Centre occurred on March 7, 2024, roughly seven months after reports emerged of North Korea supplying weapons to Russia. The transfers have continued alongside reports that thousands of North Korean troops have been deployed to assist Russian forces, with the most recent shipment recorded on November 5.

“While Kim Jong Un is providing Vladimir Putin with a lifeline to continue his war, Russia is quietly providing North Korea with a lifeline of its own,” said Joe Byrne of the Open Source Centre. “This steady flow of oil gives North Korea a level of stability it hasn’t had since these sanctions were introduced.”

The findings highlight the deepening relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang, raising significant concerns about the enforcement of international sanctions and the broader implications for global security.