As of May 2025, there were over 400 gas stations operating illegally in Ukraine. This issue primarily affects the Lviv, Odesa, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, where the majority of the illegal business is concentrated.
This is reported by Finway
Scale and Location of Illegal Gas Stations
According to information from the head of the tax committee of the Verkhovna Rada, Danil Hetmantsev, most illegal gas stations continue their operations even after law enforcement intervention. The situation is worst in the mentioned regions, as dozens of stations operate without the necessary licenses and receipts, despite open criminal proceedings and inspections conducted.
Government and Law Enforcement Response
Hetmantsev emphasized that following the tax committee’s appeal, inspections, fuel seizures, and partial dismantling of equipment were organized. However, according to him, these actions have only yielded formal results, and most illegal points continue to operate. The situation is particularly challenging in the Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv regions.
“The measures taken by law enforcement and the oversight of regional prosecutors are weak. The Bureau of Economic Security and the General Prosecutor’s Office must finally demonstrate real results, not just reports on paper,” the MP believes.
Monitoring by the tax committee has shown that despite investigations, dozens of illegal gas stations continue to sell fuel unlawfully. Authorities are urging law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office to intensify efforts to effectively address the issue of the illegal fuel market.