About 2 mln Ukrainians use fuel cashback program so far – PM

Some two million Ukrainians have used the fuel cashback program since its launch on March 20, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Telegram on Thursday.

Over 91% of participants own mass-market vehicles, the most common models being Volkswagen Passat and Golf, Renault Megane, Skoda Octavia and Fabia, Ford Focus, Daewoo Lanos and VAZ cars, she said. Most vehicles are 10-20 years old, and over 80% have engines of up to 2.5 liters, Svyrydenko said.

WOG fuel station network CEO Andriy Pyvovarsky said at a Forbes Ukraine Business Breakfast event on Wednesday that the state is not spending additional budget funds on the program, as it received unplanned revenue from customs clearance of significantly more expensive fuel.

"For example, the budget projected $700 per tonne of diesel on world markets, but it became $1,600. As a result, more VAT was collected from customs clearance. By our calculations, the state will receive an additional 1.5-1.6 billion hryvnias per month from customs clearance in March-April. As far as we know, 20-25 million is spent on cashback per day. So the state will not use all the additional VAT," Pyvovarsky said.

He called the fuel cashback decision "quite balanced for a time of uncertainty, to support those who absolutely need it," adding that none of his acquaintances who own expensive cars have signed up for the state cashback. People with expensive cars do not think about how to pay utility bills, one of the things the cashback funds can be spent on, he said.

As previously reported with reference to Economy, Environment and Agriculture Minister Oleksiy Sobolev, the share of cashless payments at fuel station networks rose 12% in the first week of the program, with 20 million hryvnias accrued to Ukrainians daily for fuel purchases.

The fuel cashback program runs from March 20 to May 1, 2026. Those already using the National Cashback program receive compensation automatically when paying by card. To join, a user must open an account with a partner bank and select it for payments and payouts in the Diia app. Accrued funds can be spent on utility bills, medicine, Ukrainian-made food products, books, postal services or support for the Armed Forces.

The program was introduced to help the population following fuel price increases that began in March, the government said.