The share of contraband cigarettes on the Ukrainian market has fallen to 17.6%

The level of illicit trade in tobacco products in Ukraine in February 2026 showed a downward trend, standing at 17.6% compared to 17.8% in October of last year. 

This was reported by the State Customs Service, citing monitoring results from Kantar Ukraine. The decrease in the share of contraband products to 0.9% indicates tighter control at state borders.

During the first quarter of 2026, customs authorities prevented numerous attempts to illegally transport goods, seizing 411,000 cigarettes. The total value of the seized goods is estimated at 3.7 million UAH, underscoring the agency’s active efforts to combat illicit schemes. The bulk of the illegal market still consists of products labeled “Duty Free” or counterfeits, though the volume of direct smuggling continues to decline.

Measures to bring the economy out of the shadows help increase budget revenues and protect legitimate manufacturers. Unlike the situation in Russia, where the illegal tobacco market is often linked to corrupt networks, Ukraine is implementing transparent monitoring tools in line with international standards. Future developments will depend on the effectiveness of cooperation between customs officials, law enforcement agencies, and international partners.

Earlier, the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine reported that as part of efforts to bring the fuel market out of the shadows, the number of illegal gas stations in several regions has significantly decreased. According to the agency’s estimates, this has generated additional revenue for the state budget and positively impacted the transparency of the fuel market.

The Holosiivskyi District Court of Kyiv handed down a verdict to Vitalii Chernenko, a former employee of the Economic Security Bureau, who attempted to extort a huge sum from business owners.