Ukraine fuel prices rise by up to 10% in September, data shows

KYIV, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Retail prices for motor fuel in Ukraine have risen by 8% to 10% since the start of the month, tracking gains in European prices, and diesel has edged close to the psychological threshold of 100 hryvnias ($2.24) per litre, fuel news agency Enkorr said.

Ukraine is fully dependent on imported fuel because Russian missile attacks have destroyed all of Ukraine's oil-refining capacity.

Globally, fuel prices have been inflated by disruption caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

Data from Enkorr showed that the average price of petrol rose 10% in September to 88.3 hryvnias per litre as of September 17, while diesel prices climbed 8% to 98.2 hryvnias per litre.

Enkorr said in a report that offers for wholesale batches of diesel fuel above 100 hryvnias per litre had already appeared in some Ukrainian regions.

"The delay in price adjustments by market makers is linked to a government request to wait for a reversal in external markets. So far, however, that hope has not materialised: European quotations have eased slightly but remain too high to stabilise domestic prices," Enkorr said.

Demand for diesel traditionally rises in autumn due to the sowing campaign, as agricultural machinery primarily runs on diesel fuel.

Russia has intensified attacks on Ukrainian petrol stations, both in the capital, Kyiv, and in frontline eastern regions, where it is seeking to disrupt logistics for Ukraine's military.

Ukraine has also targeted Russian refineries, causing major disruption to Russian fuel supplies.    

($1 = 44.6916 hryvnias)

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; editing by Barbara Lewis)