Ruslan Kravchenko: Fines for illegal fuel production have already amounted to 11 million UAH since the beginning of year

Press service of the State Tax Service of Ukraine, published 13 March 2025 at 11:35 Chapter: News

State Tax Service, together with the law enforcement officers, is taking appropriate measures to stop illegal fuel production, including at the mini-oil refinery. Employees of the Tax Service have already conducted 690 actual audits of business entities in two months of this year. As a result, 59 licenses were canceled and financial sanctions amounted to 11 million UAH. 

This was stated by Head of the State Tax Service Ruslan Kravchenko during the meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian Oil and Gas Association.

Parties discussed a set of questions necessary for un-shadowing fuel market.

"Illegal gas stations, underground production, manipulation of checks and sales for "cash" are not only problem for the state. Legal market players who work transparently also suffer from this. After all, it is about fair competition and equal conditions for everyone. My position is principled: all market participants must work according to the law – without schemes and tax evasion. This concerns everyone – regardless of the business scale" – stated Ruslan Kravchenko. 

State Tax Service also systematically processes information about illegal fuel retail outlets. Large chains often raise question of undercutting fuel sales prices by small market participants. But it should be understood that their costs for logistics, personnel, infrastructure are significantly lower, which allows them to offer lower prices.

Separate control is over payments outside the cash register. This regards failure to conduct transactions through the registrars of settlement operations, failure to issue fiscal checks and violations of inventory accounting.

"Fuel market must operate transparently. We are acting decisively to bring it out of the shadows" – added Head of the State Tax Service.