Shadow Fuel Market: The Number of Illegal Gas Stations in Ukraine Increases.

The number of gas stations with suspicious activities in Ukraine increased again by September 2024 and now stands at 419 facilities.

According to the information from the Oil and Gas Association of Ukraine, the majority of such stations are located in the Lviv region - 98 gas stations (23%), Odessa - 42 gas stations (10%), and Ivano-Frankivsk - 41 gas stations (10%).

"The war conditions put legal players in the oil and gas market under significant difficulties. They not only pay taxes but also help finance Ukrainian defense forces, which is a trend for all honest businesses. Illegal market players will sell counterfeit fuel, evade taxation, and violate safety requirements for the environment and workers. This allows them to offer fuel at prices sometimes below cost, creating unfair competition and significantly reducing budget revenues," noted the head of the Oil and Gas Association of Ukraine, Yaroslav Starovytenko.

He emphasized that this situation harms the economy and deprives the country of the financial resources necessary for defense capabilities.

"The Oil and Gas Association of Ukraine calls on the Cabinet of Ministers, the State Tax Service, and the Temporary Investigative Commission to check facilities that might operate illegally. Illegal gas stations should legalize their activities or leave the market. Only this way can we increase state budget revenues to finance defense forces and ensure the safety of citizens," the statement from the Oil and Gas Association of Ukraine says.