---
title: "\"The market fully covers demand\": how Kyiv is building underground storage facilities and new fuel routes"
description: "Energy Minister Denys Shmygal stated that Ukraine's fuel market fully covers demand and that reserves are sufficient. At the same time, fuel station networks raised prices on gasoline, diesel, and gas by an average of one hryvnia per liter."
date: 2026-09-02T15:50:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-fuel-market-underground-storage-new-routes
tags: [ukraine, fuel-market, diesel, energy, shmyhal, romania, underground-storage, druzhba-pipeline]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "The market fully covers demand": how Kyiv is building underground storage facilities and new fuel routes

![Refueling a car at a Kyiv gas station: a customer with a receipt at the fuel pump amid a stable fuel market](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/02/ukraina-rynok-topliva-podzemnye-hranilishcha/ukraina-rynok-topliva-podzemnye-hranilishcha-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Energy Minister Denys Shmygal stated that Ukraine's fuel market fully covers demand, and that, according to data from the State Customs Service, the Tax Service, and market operators, reserves are sufficient for current consumption.
- The government is launching an experimental project on underground fuel storage and diversifying supply routes, with a focus on expanding rail and river routes through Romania.
- On the day of the statement, major fuel station networks raised prices on gasoline, diesel, and autogas by an average of one hryvnia per liter, creating a contradiction with the official assessment of market stability.

The Ukrainian fuel market, according to the government's assessment, fully covers current consumer needs, and a comprehensive set of measures is being launched to keep the situation under control. This was stated by Energy Minister Denys Shmygal, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. At the heart of the strategy is the creation of a branched system of underground petroleum product storage facilities, which is meant to ensure safe storage conditions in wartime, and the priority guarantee of uninterrupted diesel fuel supplies for the Ukrainian Defense Forces and critical infrastructure facilities.

### Underground storage as an element of energy security

The key innovation announced by the minister was an experimental project on underground fuel storage. As envisaged by the authorities, the country will develop a branched network of storage facilities capable of withstanding elevated wartime risks and reducing the vulnerability of above-ground infrastructure. This approach, as emphasized in the statement, is aimed at ensuring that even in the event of local logistics disruptions or attacks on storage facilities, the reserves remain protected and supplies to priority directions — the military and critical infrastructure — are not interrupted.

### Route diversification: a bet on the Romanian direction

In parallel with the creation of storage facilities, the government continues to diversify fuel supply routes, paying special attention to the Romanian direction. Shmygal reported that, following a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Romanian President Nicolae Ciucă, agreements were reached on expanding rail and river routes through Romania. At present, according to the minister, the governments of the two countries are working on the practical implementation of these steps, which should increase the throughput capacity of alternative channels and reduce dependence on individual directions.

### Reserves: data from the State Customs Service, the Tax Service, and market operators

Assessing the current state of the market, the minister referred to data from the State Customs Service, the Tax Service, and market operators. According to this information, as of early September, Ukraine had accumulated sufficient fuel reserves to cover the current level of consumption. It is on this basis, according to Shmygal, that the conclusion is drawn that the market fully covers demand and the situation remains manageable, provided the adopted measures continue.

### Contradictory data

Here it is worth noting a discrepancy between the official assessment and what is happening at fuel stations. On the one hand, the minister claims that reserves are sufficient and demand is fully covered, which should indicate the stability of the market. On the other hand, on that very day major fuel station networks updated their price tags, raising the cost of gasoline, diesel, and autogas: over the course of a day, fuel prices rose by an average of one hryvnia per liter. Thus, the official rhetoric of "covered demand" coexists with an actual rise in retail prices, and observers will have to check whether the price dynamics persist or are curbed by the announced measures.

### Context: the role of "Druzhba" and allied channels

In the broader context of the minister's statement, the logic of reducing and stabilizing fuel market prices is linked to the restoration and use of pipeline infrastructure, first and foremost the "Druzhba" oil pipeline, as well as to deepening logistical cooperation with strategic partners. In related remarks, Shmygal pointed out that it is precisely work through these channels that can affect the cost of diesel, and that relations with a number of European countries, including Poland, are characterized as strategic partnership. The combination of these factors — underground storage facilities, Romanian rail and river routes, "Druzhba," and allied channels — constitutes, as envisaged by the authorities, the foundation for keeping the fuel market under control.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Underground storage and new routes: how Ukraine is protecting its fuel market](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pidzemni-shovishcha-ta-novi-marshruti-k-ukrayina-1788363680.html) - Первичный источник заявления министра о подземных хранилищах, диверсификации маршрутов через Румынию и достаточности запасов.
- [Diesel prices could fall sharply: Shmygal said what will affect the cost](https://glavred.info/ukraine/ceny-na-dizel-mogut-rezko-upast-shmygal-skazal-chto-povliyaet-na-stoimost-10759712.html) - Контекст: заявления министра о факторах, влияющих на стоимость дизельного топлива.
- [Shmygal explained how to lower diesel prices in Ukraine: "Druzhba" will help](https://www.unian.net/economics/energetics/ceny-na-dizelnoe-toplivo-shmygal-rasskazal-kak-udeshevit-toplivo-v-ukraine-13362426.html) - Контекст: связь удешевления топлива с использованием магистрального нефтепровода «Дружба».
- [Denys Shmygal: Ukraine and Poland are strategic allies](https://www.polskieradio.pl/397/7835/Artykul/3356582,%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81-%D1%88%D0%BC%D1%8B%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%B0-%D1%8F%D0%B2%D0%BB%D1%8F%D1%8E%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F-%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%8E%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8) - Контекст: характеристика отношений с Польшей как стратегического партнерства в логистике поставок.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Are Ukraine's fuel reserves sufficient as of early September?
**A:** According to Energy Minister Denys Shmygal, based on data from the State Customs Service, the Tax Service, and market operators, as of early September the country had accumulated sufficient fuel reserves to cover the current level of consumption.

### Q: What fuel storage project is the government launching?
**A:** An experimental project on underground fuel storage has been launched: the plan is to create a branched system of storage facilities for the safe storage of petroleum products in wartime, with priority given to diesel supplies for the Defense Forces and critical infrastructure.

### Q: Through which countries are fuel supplies being diversified?
**A:** Special attention is being paid to the Romanian direction: following a meeting between Zelensky and Romanian President Nicolae Ciucă, agreements were reached on expanding rail and river routes through Romania, and the governments are working on their implementation.

### Q: What happened to fuel prices on the day of the statement?
**A:** On that day, major fuel station networks updated their price tags, raising the cost of gasoline, diesel, and autogas: over the course of a day, fuel prices rose by an average of one hryvnia per liter.