In the temporarily occupied territory of the Luhansk region, the Russian occupation authorities have begun coordinating maximum fuel markups with gas station networks. According to RBC-Ukraine, this was stated by the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Oleksiy Kharchenko, commenting on the actions of the invaders in the parts of the region they control. According to him, this is a targeted attempt to administratively fix the cost of fuel until the end of the year.
Agreements on Maximum Markup
According to Kharchenko, the occupation administration has begun concluding relevant agreements with gas station networks operating in the territory of the so-called "LNR". Within the framework of these documents, companies are allowed to set maximum markups on all types of fuel. Thus, the invaders are trying to artificially fix fuel prices until the end of the year, having previously agreed with market participants on the permissible size of the markups.
"Economically Sound Principles" vs. Price Freeze
The occupation authorities claim that fuel prices will be formed on the basis of, as they claim, "economically sound principles". At the same time, as Kharchenko noted, this is actually an attempt to artificially freeze the cost of fuel: the size of the markups is agreed upon in advance, which excludes normal market pricing. According to the military administration, the agreements are to remain in effect until the end of 2026 — according to the calculations of the occupation authorities, this will avoid further price changes for a certain period.
Simulation of Winter Preparation in Lysychansk
Meanwhile, in occupied Lysychansk, local occupation authorities are simulating preparations for winter. Damaged sections of heating mains have begun to be dug up in the city, but according to Kharchenko's assessment, there are no signs that pipe replacement has started. "Not four years ago and not even in the spring of 2026. But on the eve of the start of the new heating season," he stressed, pointing out that actual infrastructure restoration work is being postponed until the very last moment.
Context: Preparation of Luhansk Region for the Heating Season
It was reported earlier that the occupiers do not have time to prepare the Luhansk region for the heating season. The combination of these facts — from attempts at administrative control of fuel prices to formal preparation of heating networks — indicates that the occupation authorities are reacting to growing household and logistical problems in the controlled territories with targeted administrative measures without addressing their root causes. Against the backdrop of the approaching 2026 heating season, the issue of the stability of the energy and fuel infrastructure in the region remains one of the key ones.
