Fines for Selling Gasoline Without Bioethanol Introduced in Ukraine Starting January 2026
As of January 1, 2026, fines will be imposed on gas stations in Ukraine for selling gasoline that lacks the mandatory bioethanol additive. This decision follows the failure of the Verkhovna Rada last year to extend the transitional period for implementing new requirements in the fuel market.
This is reported by AgroReview
Parliament Did Not Approve the Delay of Fines
On December 17, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada lacked the votes to pass bill No. 13219 in its second reading. This document aimed to postpone the enforcement of fines for gasoline containing less than 5% bioethanol. As a result, the current legislation automatically came into full effect, making all requirements regarding the bioethanol content mandatory.
Sanctions for Gas Stations and Implementation Issues
Gas station owners who violate the bioethanol content regulations face fines of 18,168 hryvnias for every 1,000 liters of fuel sold. Additionally, harsher penalties are imposed for failing to provide or concealing information about the alcohol content in gasoline, ranging from 227,100 to 333,080 hryvnias.
At the same time, the main difficulty lies not in the unwillingness of businesses to comply with the requirements, but in the lack of technical capability. Ukraine imports the majority of its gasoline from the EU, where the E10 standard (7-10% bioethanol) is in effect, while the Ukrainian market requires E5 gasoline (5%). Producing this separate product is economically unfeasible, as it necessitates the establishment of additional production capacities and leads to higher fuel costs.
“The issue is not the unwillingness of businesses to comply with the requirements, but the lack of real technical capabilities. Ukraine imports most of its gasoline from the European Union, where the E10 standard (7-10% bioethanol) is in effect. Producing a separate E5 (5%) gasoline for the Ukrainian market is economically disadvantageous — it requires separate facilities and increases production costs.”
Domestic production of bioethanol is also not established. In the context of war, storing significant reserves of alcoholic fuel at oil depots is too risky due to the constant threat of missile strikes. As a result, the market anticipated an extension of the transitional period and did not create additional reserves of gasoline with bioethanol.