The Morning Edition 'Blood oil': How Australia is funding Russia's war
Nov 23, 2025
Kateryna Argyrou, Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations and Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Sydney, discusses the chilling concept of 'blood oil'—how Australian fuel purchases inadvertently fund Russia's war. David Crowe, Europe correspondent, reveals the complexities of Russian oil evading sanctions through third-country refineries. The duo highlights the economic implications for Australia, contrasts aid efforts with continued fuel imports, and emphasizes the urgent need for tougher sanctions to protect Ukrainians and halt the funding of conflict.
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How Russian Crude Reaches Australia
- Australia imports refined fuels that were originally Russian crude via third-country refineries like India and Malaysia.
- That flow lets Australian money indirectly reach Moscow and sustain Russia's war capacity.
Personal Loss Linked To The War
- Kateryna Argyrou described her cousin Yura serving as a combat medic who was killed evacuating wounded soldiers.
- She links his death to weapons financed in part by revenues from Russian oil exports.
Family Trauma From Missile Strike
- Kateryna recounted a missile strike near her mother's apartment that threw her across the room and caused an internal brain bleed.
- Her mother survived but requires ongoing hospital checks because of the attack's trauma.