Ukraine is completely dependent on imports: AMCU head names reasons for fuel price increases
11 March 15:10
One of the main factors behind the rise in fuel prices was the shutdown of Ukraine’s largest oil refinery. There are other reasons as well.
According to "Komersant Ukrainian", this was stated by the head of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, Pavlo Kyrylenko, during a speech at a plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada.
According to him, in connection with the rapid rise in fuel prices that began on February 28 this year, on March 2, the AMCU launched an investigation to identify signs of violations of the law in the actions of gas station operators that could distort economic competition.
In particular, demands were sent to the largest fuel networks to prevent unjustified increases in fuel prices.
At the same time, the AMCU began holding a series of working meetings with each gas station operator, including national ones.
On March 9, based on the results of processing the information received and analyzing the factors that led to the significant price increase, the AMCU began considering the case on the grounds of a violation in the retail markets for light petroleum products in the form of anti-competitive concerted actions.
“Despite the existence of objective factors for the growth of prices for light petroleum products, the Committee does not rule out that this situation may also be caused by certain subjective factors,” Kirilenko said.
He reported on what the AMCU has managed to find out so far.
“The main objective factor that influenced the price increase is that since last year, namely after the shutdown of the largest, in fact, the only oil refinery in Ukraine, almost all light petroleum products, in percentage terms, 85% depend on imports of petroleum products,” said the head of the AMCU.
Other factors contributing to price increases include:
- increased demand and reduced supply and stocks;
- increase in the actual cost of purchasing petroleum products and the forecast of further growth in the cost of petroleum products;
- increase in the cost of logistics services;
- the inability to compare fuel storage conditions and volumes in Ukraine.
“Currently, fuel delivery logistics cannot be compared a priori with logistics, delivery, and fuel production in European Union countries,” emphasized the head of the AMCU.
According to him, on February 27, 2026, according to information from operators, the volumes of petroleum products purchased, in particular A-95 gasoline and diesel fuel, increased by 40-70% for gasoline and 60-140% for diesel fuel, respectively.
At the same time, there was a reduction in supply from European suppliers due to the need and clear arguments of European suppliers to fill their own markets.
At the same time, Kirilenko stressed that this situation cannot be compared to the situation at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when Ukraine had huge logistics problems, but there were resources available and they were stable in the EU.
“Therefore, for example, as of February 23, the increase in Europe reached 10.5%, while our country’s gas stations only experienced this level of price increase on March 4 of this year, that is, 14 days later,” added the head of the AMCU.
Fuel price increase in Ukraine
As a reminder, due to the US and Israeli operation against Iran, there is significant instability in the global energy market. Oil prices have risen to $100 per barrel.
However, after US President Donald Trump’s statement that the war with Iran was “practically over,” prices began to fall.
Brent crude is currently trading on the London ICE exchange at around $87.5 per barrel.
At the same time, experts emphasize that even after falling by about 20%, oil is still more expensive than before the crisis in the Middle East. The overall price increase is about 20%.
Against this backdrop, fuel prices began to rise at gas stations in Ukraine.
On March 5, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine gave market participants three days to explain the reasons for the significant price increase. Due to the situation on the fuel market, the head of the AMCU, Pavlo Kyrylenko, was summoned to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine today.
