May 20, 2022

McDonald's Unhappy Departure


McDonald's Unhappy Departure
Our buddy, Ronald McDonald. Wikimedia Commons, Simon Burchell

McDonald’s announced it will completely withdraw from Russia because of the country's invasion of Ukraine.

All of McDonald’s 850 restaurants temporarily closed in March, after the onset of the war, yet all 62,000 company employees continued to receive their salaries. Now McDonald’s has said that the company’s values do align with what is happening in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis that has resulted. The company is expected to take a R77.55 – 90.475 billion ($1.2 – 1.4 billion) loss as a result of this move.

McDonald's had a 32-year run in the Russian Federation. The first McDonald’s opened on January 31, 1990, on Pushkinskaya Square in central Moscow. It's opening was heralded as a sign of the opening up of the Soviet economy and the beginning of a new era.

McDonald’s is searching for someone to buy the restaurant chain's property, though the McDonald’s logo, menu, name, or letter “M” cannot be used. Until a buyer is found, the company said, all employees will continue to be paid.

You Might Also Like

Ukraine's Best Friend
  • May 12, 2022

Ukraine's Best Friend

Patron, a Jack Russell Terrier in Chernihiv, is fighting against the Russian invasion in his own way.
Gummy Bear Suspension
  • May 03, 2022

Gummy Bear Suspension

The candy company Haribo halts production to Russia due to the Ukraine conflict.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955