Topline
McDonald’s will soon resume operations at some of its Ukraine locations after shuttering for six months, according to a note sent to employees Thursday morning, following the fast food giant’s infamous withdrawal from Russia in protest of the invasion of Ukraine.
Key Facts
In the coming months, the company plans to reopen some of its restaurants in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv and other locations in Western Ukraine away from the frontlines of fighting, according to a message to employees from Paul Pomroy, the McDonald’s corporate senior vice president of international operated markets, seen by Forbes and other outlets.
Pomroy said the reopening “would support a small but important sense of normalcy,” and said the move was done after consulting with some of its roughly 10,000 Ukrainian employees, who the company has continued to pay since shutting all Ukrainian restaurants in February.
McDonald’s will now begin a phased reopening to bring back employees, secure supplies and restore the locations, Pomroy said.
The Associated Press first reported on Pomroy’s note.
Key Background
McDonald’s announced May 16 it planned to leave the Russian market entirely, citing the “humanitarian crisis” and “unpredictable operating environment” caused by Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine launched in February. The company announced three days later it sold its Russian business to a local operee. McDonald’s had over 800 locations and 60,000 employees in Russia, and was a major symbolism of capitalism and American influence spreading to the country following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Some of the rebranded Russian McDonald’s locations opened in June selling similar fast food items, but under a new name, Vkusno i Tochka, which translates to “tasty and that’s it.” McDonald’s has 109 restaurants in Ukraine, according to the Associated Press.
Further Viewing
Further Reading
Big Mac is coming back: McDonald’s to reopen in Ukraine (Associated Press)
McDonald’s Says It’s Exiting Russia After More Than 30 Years (Forbes)
No More Golden Arches: Russia Moves Forward With McDonald’s Rebrand (Forbes)
‘Tasty And That’s It’: Former McDonald’s Restaurants Reopen In Russia Under New Name (In Photos) (Forbes)