Swiss comfort and billions in revenue in Ukraine: How much does OKKO Group earn, and where does its founder live during the war?
8 July 18:29
ANALYSIS
People’s Deputy Oleksiy Goncharenko accused Vitaliy Antonov, the founder of the OKKO gas station chain, of emigrating to Switzerland during the war and called on the company’s management to report to a parliamentary commission. He wrote about this on Facebook. While the politician’s statement is causing a stir in the media, "Komersant Ukrainian" analyzed OKKO Group’s financial statements and registration data to determine: how much the giant of the domestic fuel market actually earns, what amounts pass through its key entities, and exactly where in the Swiss backstreets the company’s beneficiaries have “settled.”
People’s Deputy Oleksiy Goncharenko publicly raised the issue of Vitaliy Antonov, the founder and ultimate beneficiary of the OKKO gas station chain, staying abroad during a full-scale war. The politician openly expressed outrage that one of the country’s most influential businessmen is managing a strategic fuel giant remotely, and called on the company’s management to appear before the Verkhovna Rada to answer questions.
“OKKO owner Vitaliy Antonov actually lives in Switzerland. He’s doing great there—living the good life. Why isn’t he living in Ukraine during the war? How is he running one of the largest fuel businesses while in another country? Who makes the key decisions at the company? That’s why representatives of the gas station chains would be better off attending the parliamentary committee hearing and answering all these questions,” said Oleksiy Goncharenko.
OKKO Group’s Financial Empire: 157 Billion in Revenue
According to official data from the OpenDataBot analytics platform, OKKO Group is a diversified corporation whose assets reached an impressive 96,699,820,700 UAH (nearly 96.7 billion UAH) in 2025. Legal registries clearly confirm that Vitaliy Antonov is not merely a top manager, but the direct founder and key owner of this fuel giant. Despite the complex corporate structure, he is listed as the ultimate beneficial owner of the group’s main operating companies.
The group’s total revenue for 2025 amounted to 157,161,315,100 UAH. The scale of the business is supported by a complex structure of public companies, among which the absolute leaders in terms of revenue are:
- OKKO-EXPRESS LLC — revenue of 85,153,749,000 UAH (2025);
- OKKO-DRIVE LLC — revenue of 16,609,701,000 UAH;
- OKKO ENERGY LLC — revenue of 7,834,326,000 UAH;
- JSC “GALNAFTOGAZ Concern” — revenue of 4,499,187,000 UAH.
In addition, the empire’s structure is bolstered by a number of offshore companies, such as GNG RETAIL LIMITED, VIDINKAL LIMITED, NATURAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS LTD., and SARUBAS LIMITED.
How Much Does the “OKKO” Gas Station Chain Earn?
If we take a closer look at the financial “heart” of the retail business— OKKO-EXPRESS LLC ( whose main activity is the wholesale and retail trade of fuel)— — then, according to OpenDataBot, its revenue trends show steady growth even during the war. Specifically, in 2023, revenue amounted to 61.89 billion hryvnia, and net profit reached a record high of over 1.1 billion hryvnia. And in 2026, the company’s revenue is expected to reach an all-time high of nearly 99 billion hryvnias ( a 16.25% increase compared to the previous year).
It is worth noting that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, “OKKO-EXPRESS” has already earned over 15.6 billion hryvnias in revenue, recording 124,570,000 hryvnias in net profit. At the same time, the company officially employs only a few dozen people (for example, 64 people in 2025), and the average pre-tax salary for its staff is 71,634 hryvnias.
The Swiss Connection: Where Exactly Does Vitaliy Antonov Live?
The company’s registration documents fully corroborate the statements made by People’s Deputy Goncharenko: the company’s founder and ultimate beneficial owner, Vitaliy Borisovich Antonov, officially listed Switzerland as his place of residence.
Moreover, the history of changes to the registration information clearly documents the businessman’s movements within the European country:
- Until early 2025, his official address was listed as: Switzerland, House 1660.
- On February 4, 2025, the beneficiary’s address changed to a more specific one: Switzerland, 1297, Canton of Vaud, Funé, Mazorlen Lane, Building 14.
The company “OKKO-EXPRESS” is legally registered in Ukraine —in the city of Skole, Lviv Oblast, at 10 Heroiv Makivky Street.
Incidentally, Vitaliy Antonov ranked 14th in the “2025 Ranking of the Most Influential Ukrainians, ” and his main asset—the “OKKO” network—remains strategic for the economy. In 2024, the company paid over 21.1 billion UAH in taxes (36%), adding nearly 5.2 billion UAH more in the first quarter of 2025. The network was not only the first to establish fuel imports from the EU at the start of the invasion but also continues to strengthen its logistics using domestic tank cars.
At the same time, the company is expanding its energy independence: 244 gas stations have already been equipped with solar panels (covering up to 55% of their needs), and in the coming years, OKKO will invest up to 500 million euros in renewable energy. At the same time, the retailer is a consistent donor to the Armed Forces, regularly funding—in partnership with foundations—the purchase of specialized equipment and FPV drones for the Airborne Assault Troops.
Populism or a Just Criticism: Social Media Exploded with Outrage
A post by MP Oleksiy Goncharenko, in which he criticized Vitaliy Antonov, the founder of the OKKO gas station chain, for living in Switzerland and called on the fuel business to “answer questions” before a parliamentary commission, sparked a veritable storm on social media. However, the MP did not receive the unanimous support he had expected—comments under the post revealed a deep divide in Ukrainians’ views on the role of private business during the war.
The vast majority of commenters viewed the lawmaker’s accusations as a manifestation of classic political populism and an attempt to stir up yet another scandal. Instead of condemning the businessman, users called on Goncharenko to turn his attention to the activities of his colleagues in parliament.
“Don’t you care why sitting members of parliament are staying abroad??? Who’s making decisions for them, and why are they receiving salaries paid for by taxpayers’ money from private companies?” asked user Kateryna Romanyuk indignantly.
A significant portion of the audience defended entrepreneurs’ right to live their lives as they see fit, as long as their businesses continue to contribute to Ukraine’s economy. Citizens emphasize that OKKO is one of the largest taxpayers, whose financial contribution to the budget and the country’s defense capabilities is very real.
“Why should a private business have to explain anything to anyone?” writes Mykhailo Podgorny.
A user going by the nickname Ritchie Ganst expressed himself even more strongly.
“As far as I’m concerned, OKKO’s tax payments are more helpful than Goncharenko and the Temporary Investigation Commission combined.”
Despite the strong defense of the business, some Ukrainians still shared their dissatisfaction that capital is being withdrawn while windfall profits are being generated amid rising domestic prices. Users also mentioned recent government decisions regarding fuel excise taxes and tariffs.
“Well, sure, they raised prices and everything’s fine. Other countries have already lowered them, but here there’s no need. Let them pay so I can party in Switzerland,” Nelya Dyumina quipped.
For his part, Vadym Zheneva succinctly added some geographical context, confirming Antonov’s location.
“He lives in the Canton of Vaud. It’s a very beautiful canton.”
Right now, the fuel giant is unlikely to face a serious crisis of confidence, as its operating results and tangible support for the military speak for themselves. However, this precedent sends a clear signal to all of big business: in times of the gravest trials, society demands not just that the elite pay their taxes, but that they show solidarity. Whether the parliamentary commission will be able to turn this scandal into a constructive dialogue—rather than yet another political spectacle—remains to be seen.
