It might sound unbelievable, but McDonald’s is not only still standing in Ukraine—it’s growing. As of June 2025, the Golden Arches shine over nearly 120 locations across the country, more than it had before Russia’s 2022 invasion. In the middle of an ongoing war, that says something.
Opening New Stores While Air Sirens Wail
McDonald’s has been on the move this year, opening new restaurants in regions like Transcarpathia—areas that didn’t even have a location before the war. Local governments are all-in. A McDonald’s means jobs, foot traffic, tax money, and maybe most importantly, a dose of normal life.
It’s not just burgers and fries. These openings carry real weight. For many Ukrainians, a new McDonald’s feels like a signal: “We’re still here. Life goes on.”
Making It Work in a War Zone
Rebuilding a bombed-out restaurant is hard enough. Rebuilding it and reopening it while a war rages? That’s a whole different level. Yet McDonald’s has done just that—like with its flagship location in Kyiv, which was shelled in January and fully back in business just weeks later.
They’ve had to get smart—changing supply chains, teaming up with local producers, and preparing staff for air raid alerts and emergency shutdowns. Every open location feels like a little act of defiance—and a big show of commitment.
Turning a Profit While Supporting a Country
Somehow, McDonald’s isn’t just surviving in Ukraine. It’s making money. Demand is high, competition is low, and the brand loyalty? Off the charts. It’s one of the top private food-sector taxpayers in the country and employs tens of thousands of people. Many of those workers were kept on payroll through the worst shutdowns.
Ukraine’s economy is still battered, but with GDP expected to grow 2–3% in 2025, businesses like McDonald’s are helping prop things up. Not with charity—but by creating stability.
A Slice of Comfort, or a PR Risk?
Not everyone’s on board. Some say the Golden Arches in a war zone feel… off. Too normal. Too shiny. Like it papers over the suffering. Critics worry it turns trauma into branding.
But supporters push back: it’s jobs, tax revenue, and something stable in a country that desperately needs all three. McDonald’s, for its part, is mostly keeping the focus on its staff and customers—not the politics.
What Comes Next?
More stores are planned. But everything depends on how the war goes. A sharp escalation could bring it all crashing down again. A step toward peace? That would open the floodgates for even bigger growth.
For now, McDonald’s is betting that Ukraine will hold—and recover. And it’s putting money, staff, and effort behind that bet.
The Bigger Picture
McDonald’s in Ukraine isn’t just a business story. It’s a story about resilience, strategy, and showing up when it’s hardest.
They didn’t just reopen. They expanded. They adapted. They kept the grills hot and the lights on—right through the air raids. And in doing that, they sent a message: Ukraine isn’t just fighting back. It’s still open for business.
