Oleg Chykyda: the western route remains a priority for ZPEK's supplies
The western import route retains a key role in supplying fuel to the Ukrainian market, while the southern one does not yet look attractive to some operators. This position was voiced by Oleg Chykyda, CEO and co-owner of the ZPEK group of companies, at the Petroleum Ukraine Warsaw'26 conference.
He explained that the southern market differs fundamentally from the western one, and the company's calculations show that operating there is unprofitable.
"The south is a completely different market compared to the west. My calculations show losses on this route. The company has the financial resources to enter the south, but sees no point in it," Oleg Chykyda noted.
Oleg Chykyda heads the ZPEK group of companies — one of Ukraine's leading diesel-fuel importers
Participants in the panel "A Hellish Year: How to Operate Amid a Permanent Crisis?" stressed that it was precisely the diversification of supply sources that allowed Ukraine to avoid a fuel shortage — both after the start of the invasion in 2022 and during the escalation in the Middle East in May 2026. The western route also retains an important role because Arctic diesel is available only in northern Europe.
According to the A-95 Consulting Group, last year the ratio of routes for diesel-fuel supply stood at 52% to 48% in favour of the west, while over the first five months of 2026 the western border already provided 62% of imports (1.61 million tonnes). The south accounted for 38% (971 thousand tonnes).
Background
The ZPEK group of companies entered the fuel-import market in 2023 and, over two years, established itself among its leading players: by the end of 2025 it made the top ten largest importers of diesel fuel and became the fifth among those supplying it by rail. The group is headed by Oleg Chykyda, under whose leadership the company is holding these positions in 2026 and is also preparing to expand its business through the retail segment.
