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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Due to Russian shelling, 100% of stationary gas stations have been destroyed in some frontline communities. The government is preparing a law on mobile gas stations, but under the threat of FPV drones, mobile refueling stations could become dangerous targets.
Main points: Destroyed infrastructure: In some frontline communities, 100% of stationary gas stations have been demolished, and businesses are refusing to rebuild them. A trap for people: Mobile gas stations seem like a solution, but an expert warns that in zones where FPV drones operate, workers at these stations will become living targets. An unexpected alternative: Instead of mobile refueling stations, the expert proposes a radically different format—what exactly, and how delivery fits in, read below. A rough draft law: The government is preparing to legalize mobile refueling stations, but the expert says serious edits are needed. The main problem of mobile gas stations is flying FPV drones Recently, Deputy Finance Minister Svitlana Vorobey said that there are communities, including in Sumy and Chernihiv regions, where 100% of stationary gas stations have been destroyed. Some operators refuse to rebuild them because stations become targets for Russian strikes again. The Ministry of Finance, together with the tax authorities, local authorities, and fuel industry representatives, is preparing a bill on mobile fueling complexes. Its aim is to legalize the sale of fuel in communities where stationary gas stations were destroyed or where operation poses danger to people. Parallel to this format, work is underway in “Ukrnafta.” The company has small-capacity tank trailers that can be converted for operation as mobile gas stations when needed, and plans to expand such a fleet. But for full use of mobile refueling complexes, changes to legislation are required. As explained in a comment to RBC-Ukraine by fuel expert and co-founder of Prime Group Dmitry Lyoushkin, the effectiveness of such a solution will depend on the security situation in a given community. “The main problem, for example, in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, is the flying FPV drones controlled by an operator. And when a mobile gas station is standing—no matter where, under bushes or in trees—who will work on this mobile gas station and wait for the drone to hit it?” he said. The expert believes the legislative mechanism needs to be adapted to different levels of danger. In areas where FPV drones regularly attack civilians, mobile gas stations may be too dangerous. “If we’re talking about cities where FPV drones fly, mobile gas stations cannot be deployed because there is no kamikaze to staff them,” noted Lyoushkin. Meanwhile, in less dangerous areas, mobile refueling can become a fast way to restore access to fuel. “If we’re talking about cities where it’s not as dangerous and perhaps networks can be set up or protected in some other way, then yes, these mobile gas stations can be deployed fairly quickly,” the expert says. An alternative from delivery experience: how this could work In Lyoushkin’s view, for territories with high FPV drone activity, it is more appropriate to use targeted fuel delivery. “If we’re talking about cities where it’s very dangerous, I don’t see anything else but targeted fuel delivery by ordinary passenger cars that are no different from regular cars. To make this work on the model, for example, of Glovo,” he said. At the same time, the format of a mobile gas station, according to the expert, is technically simple: a vehicle with fuel tanks and equipment for dispensing it. In the absence of gas stations, there are risks too, and this is not about fuel shortages Lyoushkin does not believe that lack of stationary gas stations automatically means a fuel shortage. He says if the legal market cannot meet demand, it will be partially replaced by informal trade. “If there are no gas stations, it does not mean there is nowhere to refuel at all. It will be a black market. People will drive, buy, resell, earn something,” he noted. The problem with such a scenario, in his view, is lack of control: the state will not know who is selling fuel, whether taxes are paid, and what its quality is. What if operators refuse mobile gas stations? A separate problem Lyoushkin identifies is owners of destroyed gas stations being reluctant to return to work in dangerous areas. Therefore, simply giving businesses the opportunity to use mobile gas stations does not guarantee that such points will appear in all communities. “And what if they don’t want to do this because it’s not profitable for them? That’s extra costs; people have died there, they no longer want to do this,” he noted. Therefore, in the expert’s view, the future mechanism must be as flexible as possible and take into account changes in the security situation. “If you write in the law how it should be, and then danger grows even more, you need to draft a bill that accounts for this. Drones are becoming more long‑range, faster, and this can change,” explained Lyoushkin. He proposes simplifying access to working with fuel for such territories—by analogy with the temporary rules that operated during the fuel crisis in 2022 year. “We need to say: people, do it if you want, ensure it. But so that you’re not homeless—declaratively tell us you’re doing this, pay some money, and at least we know who’s doing this,” he said. The expert considers the bill “quite raw.” Lyoushkin believes the current version of the document will undergo substantial changes. According to him, the bill in its present form is “quite raw,” as the authors, in his view, have not sufficiently taken into account the realities of working in the fuel retail sector in wartime. “The bill I read is quite raw. I think many edits will be made, especially by Sergei Koretsky,” he said, referring to the former prime minister. Koretsky has substantial experience in fuel retail: in 2013–2018 years he led the WOG gas station network, and in 2022–2025 years he led “Ukrnafta.”
Also read: “A pair of cans won’t hurt”: what will happen to fuel prices at gas stations and why you should stock up
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Основна проблема - FPV. Чи зможуть мобільні АЗС замінити заправки і до чого тут кур'єри". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: RBC-Ukraine.
