AMCU Investigates Gas Station Chains Over Suspected Price-Fixing in Fuel Market
The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) has launched an official investigation into the sharp rise in gasoline and diesel prices at Ukrainian fuel stations.
This was confirmed to Censor.NET by AMCU Deputy Chairman and State Commissioner Denis Klyushnikov.
The agency has already received confidential data from key market players to assess the justification of the new prices. The main goal of the investigation is to determine whether the price increases result from objective economic factors or from anti-competitive collusion among major gas station networks.
Preliminary AMCU analysis highlights several factors putting upward pressure on fuel prices, including international oil market instability, rising demand amid supply shortages, logistics costs, and fluctuations in the national currency. However, the committee does not rule out the possibility of artificially inflated prices.
“On 9 March 2026, the Committee opened a case on signs of anti-competitive coordinated actions involving the increase of retail prices for petroleum products,” said AMCU Deputy Chairman Denis Klyushnikov.
Currently, the committee is processing the confidential information it has received, and company-specific data is not being disclosed. AMCU’s authority in this case is strictly limited to protecting economic competition. The committee cannot directly regulate or set prices but is obliged to sanction any collusion.
If collusion between gas station networks is proven, the companies involved will face penalties. Under Ukrainian law, fines for such violations can reach up to 10% of a company’s revenue from the previous reporting year. Given the high turnover of fuel networks, such penalties could represent a significant financial blow to rule-breaking companies.
For context, as of 17 March 2026, the largest gas station chains in Ukraine updated their fuel prices. Price increases have also been driven by plant shutdowns and import-related factors.
