Throughout March 2026, the regulatory environment of the Ukrainian fuel market was shaped by both parliamentary initiatives and active government policies. These efforts were aimed at stabilizing prices and tightening market control, significantly impacting small and medium-sized fuel and energy businesses.
Parliamentary Initiatives
A key legislative step was the advancement of a system for minimum stocks of oil and petroleum products, mandating that importers and producers maintain strategic fuel reserves.
- Price Stabilization: Draft Resolution No. 15065 (dated 10.03.2026) was registered to stabilize fuel prices, potentially increasing state influence over pricing and the market behavior of operators.
- Tax Incentives & Reform: Parliament is considering Draft Law No. 15111-2 (dated 05.04.2026), introduced by MP Dmytro Razumkov. This bill addresses the taxation of digital platforms and introduces incentives to resolve the fuel market crisis.
- Abolishing Advance Payments: A crucial component of the bill is the cancellation of monthly advance corporate income tax payments for gas stations. This measure aims to prevent cash flow gaps, reduce the risk of station closures, and prevent market over-concentration. This proposal fully incorporates analytics provided by the Fuel and Energy Business Association (FEBA).
Government Initiatives
In March, the Cabinet of Ministers actively pursued a policy of “soft regulation.” The government held coordination meetings with major gas station chains and relevant authorities (Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Energy, AMCU, and the State Consumer Service) to ensure sufficient supply and price stability.
- Ukrnafta as a Price Anchor: The state-owned company “Ukrnafta” effectively serves as a price benchmark, maintaining stable rates to influence the behavior of other market participants.
- Antimonopoly Oversight: On March 4, 2026, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) demanded information from market participants regarding the causes of price increases. While strict deadlines were set, the results of these inquiries have not yet been made public.
- War Risk Support: The government tripled the maximum compensation for damaged or destroyed property to 30 million UAH and for insurance premiums to 3 million UAH. Access was also simplified, allowing claims for premium compensation as early as the 31st day after signing a contract.
Digitalization & Personnel Management
A “seamless” extension for employee deferrals (reservations) was launched via the Diia portal.
- Previously, companies had to cancel an existing status before reapplying.
- Now, the process is automatic: if the employee has a valid reservation and the enterprise’s “critical status” remains unchanged, re-booking occurs automatically within 24 hours.
“Fuel Cashback” Program
The Cabinet of Ministers introduced a new short-term support tool—Fuel Cashback—as part of the “National Cashback” initiative to mitigate the impact of price spikes.
Starting March 20, citizens can receive partial reimbursement for fuel purchased at participating gas stations. The cashback rates are categorized as follows:
| Fuel Type | Cashback Rate |
| Diesel Fuel | 15% |
| Gasoline | 10% |
| LPG (Auto-gas) | 5% |
