KIEV, Jan. 11 – Ukraine’s largest fuel filling station chains have issued a statement disputing government price-setting accusations, blaming the growth of world oil prices and the rise of fuel excise duty for the increase in retail fuel prices currently seen in the country, adding that such rises will continue in future.

Currently the main impetus for the growth in prices at the pumps is the increase in oil prices on the world markets, which at the end of December hit $92 per barrel, as well as the 37.9% increase in petrol excise duty in Ukraine from January 1, to EUR 182 per ton, Galnaftogaz Concern (Lviv) said in a statement released to local media.