The Lviv region has the highest number of illegal gas stations (GS) in Ukraine – 87. This accounts for 20% of all such stations in the country. This was reported by the Ukrainian Gas Association (UGA).
This is reported by Finway
Top 5 Regions with Illegal Gas Stations
The top five regions with the largest number of illegal gas stations also include:
- Odesa region – 47 (11% of the total);
- Kyiv and surrounding area – 44 (10%);
- Ivano-Frankivsk region – 34 (8%);
- Dnipropetrovsk region – 29 (7%).
“Despite the government’s efforts, illegal gas stations continue to operate. They undermine the economy, the competitiveness of legal market participants, and pose a threat to citizens and surrounding infrastructure,” the statement reads.
Consequences of Illegal Activities
Analysts noted that shadow market players sell counterfeit fuel, avoiding tax payments. Additionally, they:
- pay salaries “under the table”;
- grossly neglect basic safety standards.
This situation allows them to offer fuel at prices that are sometimes below production costs, distorting the market, weakening the economy, and reducing the financial resources necessary to maintain the country’s defense capabilities, the UGA summarized.
Overall, there are numerous ways to counterfeit fuel in the market. For example, lowering the octane number leads to uneven fuel combustion in the engine. The octane number can also be artificially inflated, negatively affecting the engine. Often, they add:
- alcohols and ethers, which at high concentrations (around 10%) lead to increased fuel consumption and can cause air bubbles in the fuel supply system in hot weather;
- aromatic hydrocarbons, which increase the amount of soot, negatively impacting the filter in the tank, fuel system tubes, seals, and more.