UKRNAFTA, Ukraine’s largest network, has completed the rebranding of petrol stations that previously operated under the Shell brand, which is an important step for the company and the development of its retail infrastructure.
“The completion of the Shell rebranding is another important step in the formation of a modern, efficient, and competitive UKRNAFTA network,” Ukrnafta JSC said in a press release on Friday.
The stations have undergone a complete rebranding, including the interior, exterior, identity, retail space, and zoning. All gas stations have been brought up to UKRNAFTA’s uniform standards for floor plans, layout, service processes, and category management. The customer journey has been unified, coffee and food areas have been revamped, service has been standardized, etc.
“Today, all 663 UKRNAFTA gas stations operate as a single operating system — the largest fuel retail network in Ukraine,” the company noted.
Ukrnafta, in particular, has significantly strengthened its presence on key highways, in Kyiv, and in strategically important regions.
The company claims that stations that have undergone the transformation from Shell to UKRNAFTA are already showing growth in fuel sales and significant growth in non-fuel product groups, such as food, coffee, and non-food items.
“Today, UKRNAFTA is the most dynamically growing network of gas stations in the country: it is already in the top three in terms of fuel sales and is moving towards a leading position,” the statement said.
Full standardization makes the retail direction more structured and predictable in terms of operations and economic indicators, the company notes.
As reported, in January 2025, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine granted PJSC Ukrnafta permission to purchase more than 50% of the shares of Alliance Holding LLC, which operates the Shell gas station network in Ukraine.
The joint venture between Shell and Mussa Bazhaev’s Russian Alliance Group to manage the gas station network in Ukraine began operations in August 2007. Shell owned a 51% stake in the joint venture, while Alliance owned 49%. Alliance transferred about 150 gas stations to the joint venture, while Shell contributed cash, licenses, and the brand.
In 2014, it became known that sanctioned Russian businessman Eduard Khudainatov had bought Bazhaev’s oil assets. In June 2022, he was sanctioned by the European Union, and in October 2022, by Ukraine.
In October 2023, the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice filed a lawsuit with the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine to recover Khudainatov’s assets for the state. As a result of the proceedings, 49% of Alliance Holding was recovered for the state. In April 2024, this share was transferred to the State Property Fund.
In November 2024, Overseas Investments, part of the Shell group of energy and petrochemical companies, registered 51% of the authorized capital of Alliance Holding in accordance with the decision of the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court.
Ukrnafta JSC is Ukraine’s largest oil producer and operator of the largest national network of gas stations, UKRNAFTA. In 2024, the company entered into an asset management agreement with Glusco. In 2025, it completed a deal with Shell Overseas Investments BV to purchase the Shell network in Ukraine. In total, it operates 663 gas stations.
The company is implementing a comprehensive program to restore operations and update the format of its network of gas stations. Since February 2023, it has been issuing its own fuel vouchers and NAFTAKarta cards, which are sold to legal entities and individuals through Ukrnafta-Postach LLC.
The largest shareholder of Ukrnafta is Naftogaz of Ukraine with a 50%+1 share. In November 2022, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine decided to transfer to the state the corporate rights of the company that belonged to private owners, which is now managed by the Ministry of Defense.
