The Ukrainian fuel market is not just numbers in reports, but a complex ecosystem where state interests and private ambitions intertwine. Today, three key players effectively dictate the rules of the game, controlling the vast majority of the country's gas stations. But who is behind these brands? It turns out, from the owner of ski resorts to a former wood processor — the list of owners surprises with its diversity.
The State Returns: The History of Ukrnafta
The absolute leader in the number of sales points is the state company "Ukrnafta". It already has almost 700 objects to its credit. The path to leadership was not easy: in 2022, the company regained control over hundreds of stations that had been managed by Igor Kolomoysky's "Privat" group for years. However, the expansion did not stop there.
In 2024, the state company took over the Glusco network (84 stations), previously associated with Viktor Medvedchuk, and also bought a controlling stake in "Alliance Holding", which owned the Shell network (118 gas stations). This year, another 21 gas stations from "Ukrgazdobycha" joined the "Ukrnafta" empire on a franchise basis.
UPG's Rise: From Wood to Fuel
The second place in the rating was taken by the private UPG network, owned by Vladimir Petrenko. The history of this business is a classic example of Ukrainian success: it all started with wood processing and fuel trading in the Zhytomyr region. Today, it is a giant with 658 gas stations in 21 regions.
A sharp jump in the development of the network occurred against the backdrop of a crisis among competitors. When the "Privat" network began to wind down its activities due to the loss of assets, UPG promptly rented and bought most of the stations under the "Avias" and ANP brands. Currently, more than 370 points operate under their own brand, while the rest are undergoing a major rebranding.
Diversification of the OKKO Holding
The top three is completed by the OKKO network with more than 410 stations. Its owner, Vitaliy Antonov, is a bright example of business diversification. His holding is not limited to fuel: investments are going into the agricultural sector, wind energy and tourism. In particular, Antonov is developing the GORO Mountain Resort ski resort project in the Lviv region.
Competitors and Driver Support
Alongside the "big three", the WOG network (352 stations), "BRSM-Nafta" (227 gas stations) and AMIS (199 stations) remain significant players in the market. However, for the average driver, the key factor remains the price. In response to the rise in fuel prices, the government launched a cashback program, which has already helped two million Ukrainians get back some of their money. For diesel, the return is 15%, for gasoline — 10%, and for gas — 5%, with a monthly limit of 500 hryvnias.
Against the backdrop of high gasoline prices, more and more car owners are thinking about changing their car to more economical models or electric cars, trying to find a balance between comfort and road expenses.