"Fuel cashback" launched and gas station prices jumped again: what's happening with fuel on March 20 and what to expect next
Kyiv • UNN
After the launch of the government program, fuel prices rose by several hryvnias per day. The cost of diesel fuel at some gas stations reached almost 88 hryvnias per liter.
In Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers' "Fuel Cashback" initiative has been launched, allowing drivers to return money spent on fuel purchases to their bank cards. Against this background, prices at some gas stations in the capital and Kyiv region increased by several hryvnias in just one day.
UNN investigated what is currently driving fuel prices up, whether the new government program directly influenced their rise, and why compensation for gasoline costs from the state budget may not save during the current fuel crisis.
How much does gasoline cost at gas stations on March 20?
On the morning of March 20, drivers who came to refuel at gas stations of some networks noted that in just one day, the cost of a liter of fuel increased by several hryvnias.
Thus, at UPG network gas stations, a liter of improved A-95 costs UAH 75.90, although on March 18-19, it cost UAH 72.90.
Premium upg 100 also increased in price and now costs UAH 82.90 – 84.99/liter.
Diesel fuel also became more expensive. For a liter, drivers are now asked to pay from UAH 82.90 to 87.99 at gas stations.
Even autogas has become more expensive: you will have to pay UAH 46.98 per liter for it.
Prices also increased at other gas stations in the country.
In the A-95 gasoline segment, the highest price was set at OKKO and SOCAR gas stations, where a liter costs UAH 74.99. At WOG, the price is UAH 74.49, at KLO – UAH 73.19. The cheapest fuel can still be bought at UKRNAFTA and BRSM-Nafta gas stations. There, gasoline is sold at UAH 68.99 per liter.
In the premium gasoline segment, the gap is also significant. A-95+ at SOCAR costs UAH 78.99 per liter. At OKKO, a liter of gasoline costs UAH 77.99, at WOG – UAH 77.49, at KLO – UAH 74.59. UKRNAFTA set the price at UAH 68.99 for both A-95 and A-95+.
In the A-100 gasoline segment, prices are also high. At OKKO and SOCAR, a liter costs UAH 84.99, at WOG – UAH 84.49, at KLO – UAH 83.99, at UPG – UAH 82.90.
A-92 gasoline is not available in all networks, but at KLO it costs UAH 72.19, and at UKRNAFTA – UAH 65.99.
Premium diesel fuel costs even more. The highest price is at KLO – UAH 87.59 per liter. At OKKO and SOCAR, a liter of diesel will cost UAH 86.99, at WOG – UAH 86.49, at UKRNAFTA – UAH 81.99.
Autogas remains the most affordable type of motor fuel, but even here prices are quite high. The most expensive gas is at OKKO – UAH 46.99 per liter. At WOG and SOCAR, it costs UAH 46.98, at KLO — UAH 46.7. Lower prices were set by UKRNAFTA (UAH 42.99/liter) and BRSM-Nafta (UAH 41.99/liter). But the difference between the minimum and maximum price is UAH 5 per liter, which is already a significant indicator for autogas.
Fuel in Ukraine is rising following external risks: expert named key reasons for the rise in prices of gasoline, diesel, and gas
Leonid Kosyanchuk, an expert in the oil product market, explains in an exclusive interview with UNN: the domestic fuel market in March 2026 remains vulnerable to external risks.
After the full-scale invasion, the country is more than 95% dependent on imported components, so fluctuations in European and world markets are quickly reflected in Ukrainian prices.
Kosyanchuk links the current price impulse to events in the Persian Gulf region and risks to maritime logistics through a key strait through which a significant part of global oil flows passes. In his opinion, exchange quotes react to such signals instantly, and due to import dependence, this quickly reaches Ukrainian retail.
The expert notes that this market segment reacted earlier than the European one.
The first to show an increase were premium networks, which at the same time remain among the largest importers, after which the correction spread to the middle and lower price segments.
Compared to March 2, the expert estimates the price increase for diesel fuel at +UAH 16.5/liter, for A-95 gasoline at +UAH 7.7/liter, and for liquefied gas at +UAH 5.6/liter.
According to his assessment, such a sequence of increases is explained by the fact that the largest importers are the first to take into account changes in external indicators in their purchases, and the rest of the market adjusts prices accordingly to avoid selling resources at a price that does not cover the future cost of replenishing stocks.
At the same time, the specialist emphasizes: the market remains heterogeneous: the difference between the premium and lower segments, according to the expert, is about UAH 5.5/liter for A-95 and UAH 8-9/liter for diesel fuel. He emphasizes that in terms of quality, the product is often the same and may come from the same batch, and the difference is formed by the networks' costs for service, infrastructure, and customer communications.
What signals are the wholesale market and European quotes sending to Ukraine?
Over the past week, wholesale prices in Ukraine, according to Kosyanchuk's assessment, increased by 6.8%, and the average wholesale price was about UAH 78.5/liter.
In parallel, according to his data, the European market showed about +8.5% for diesel fuel and about +8% for gasoline, which in absolute terms he estimates as +113.5 USD/ton for the diesel segment and +93.5 USD/ton for the gasoline segment.
This creates prerequisites for further retail growth: approximately up to +UAH 6/liter for diesel fuel and about +UAH 5.5/liter for gasoline. The expert emphasizes that this is not a guaranteed result for a specific date, as the speed of transferring quotes into the price depends on residues, contractual terms, and import rates.
Tax component and network costs as factors that "push" fuel prices up
Kosyanchuk, in a comment to UNN, estimates taxes at 30-40% of the retail price of fuel. In addition to the purchase price of the resource, the price is affected by the costs of maintaining gas stations and logistics, including energy and other operating payments.
In such a configuration, even a short-term stabilization of quotes does not mean an automatic and rapid reduction in prices at gas station displays: the tax share and fixed costs remain unchanged, and imported resources arrive with a time delay.
Fuel prices: what scenarios should drivers prepare for in spring and summer?
The further trajectory of fuel prices, according to Leonid Kosyanchuk, will depend on the development of the international situation in the Persian Gulf region. In case of de-escalation, he admits the emergence of risks of price reduction in the summer, while a protracted crisis increases the likelihood of maintaining high price pressure in Ukraine.
The state returns money for fuel, but risks remain: will "fuel cashback" save drivers?
Leonid Kosyanchuk, in an interview with UNN journalists, critically assesses the government's fuel cashback program, emphasizing its limited coverage.
A significant part of diesel fuel consumption falls on logistics and other organizations that do not fall under the refund mechanism, but their fuel costs are subsequently included in the cost of goods and services.
The two key limitations of the program, which the expert points out, are a short period of validity (until May 1, 2026) and a refund limit of up to UAH 1000.
Kosyanchuk explains: refueling a car twice a month with approximately 40 liters means about 80 liters of consumption and costs of about UAH 6.5 thousand per month, while the potential refund is limited to UAH 1000 and may arrive with a delay until the next month.
As a result, according to the expert's assessment, the program does not create a tangible effect either for retail prices or for inflationary expectations.
As an alternative approach, he names targeted solutions that reduce tax pressure or other mandatory payments for vulnerable groups during periods of sharp fluctuations, but emphasizes that the tax component of fuel prices remains high.
What is known about the National Fuel Cashback
The government, in order to somewhat mitigate the financial blow from the fuel crisis that began after the escalation in the Middle East, announced the launch of a cashback program. The initiative provides that Ukrainians will be able to return up to 15% of the money spent on fuel at partner gas stations.
The amount of compensation from the state depends on the type of fuel. Thus, compensation for diesel will be 15% of its cost, for the purchase of gasoline, the driver will receive 10% of the spent funds, and buyers of autogas will be able to return 5% of the costs to their bank card.
The program will operate in parallel with the gas stations' own loyalty initiatives. If the network has its own bonuses or discounts, they will operate in parallel with the state cashback.
The program will run until May 1, 2026.
Cashback on fuel starts in Ukraine - what you need to know20.03.26, 10:59 • 18677 views
How to join the program and get cashback for fuel
In order to receive monetary compensation from the state for the purchase of gasoline, diesel, and autogas, you need to:
- open a special National Cashback card at a partner bank;
- pay for fuel purchases at a gas station with a card connected to the program;
- get cashback. You can spend it on goods that the Cabinet of Ministers listed in a special list. These can be utility, medical, and postal services, transport tickets, sports, cinema, buying books, military bonds, or donating to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Funds are also accepted in supermarkets for products of Ukrainian production.