Russia hits Coca-Cola, McDonald's sites in Ukraine but Donald Trump staying silent

Russian attacks on American businesses operating in Ukraine have damaged facilities linked to Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and PepsiCo in recent months, raising questions about why the Donald Trump administration has been more vocal in criticising Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure than in condemning attacks on US companies.The attacks have hit factories and warehouses, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describing a drone strike on a Coca-Cola plant near Kyiv in early September as a “clear signal” to Washington.Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, said Russian missiles and drones had damaged facilities belonging to some of the biggest American brands. He told CNN that while Russia had targeted US businesses before, the scale of the attacks in recent months was unprecedented.“This is a direct hit with drones and missiles, and they keep hitting them. It’s sending a message that they’re targeting American business. We’re not seeing any response from the White House,” he said.Coca-Cola plant, McDonald’s warehouse targetedA Russian drone struck a Coca-Cola factory outside Kyiv in early September. On September 3, Zelenskyy referred to the attack in his nightly video address, saying, “Today, the Russians struck a Coca-Cola plant with a drone. Coca-Cola has become such an enemy to them that they’re burning it down with their Shaheds,” referring to “Iranian-designed drones.”“This is a clear signal from Russia to America. The Russians cannot possibly be unaware that this is an American enterprise,” Zelenskyy added.Later in September, a Russian attack drone hit a warehouse used by McDonald’s in the Kyiv region. Zelenskyy said the strike destroyed the warehouse, while McDonald’s Ukraine confirmed that “a warehouse operated by one of our logistics partners in the Kyiv region was damaged in a drone attack on 25 September.”“An attack drone – against ordinary food products,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “The Russians are constantly expanding their escalation operation: American and other businesses, data centers, internet providers – for Russia, ordinary life in and of itself is simply a target.”The damage has affected operations at McDonald’s restaurants in Ukraine, which are now offering a reduced menu. PepsiCo also confirmed in late August that a production facility in the Mykolaiv region had been damaged, although no casualties were reported.Hunder said the attacks were hitting American investors and commercial interests directly.“We need this to stop because these are American interests, American money, American investors that are being hit and are being targeted,” he said.US response under scrutinyThe lack of a strong public response from the Trump administration has drawn criticism from some US lawmakers, including Democrats who have urged the White House to do more to protect American businesses in Ukraine and condemn Moscow’s actions.However, companies operating in the country have differed over whether to speak publicly about the attacks. A former senior State Department official told CNN that some businesses were reluctant to disclose that their facilities had been targeted repeatedly.“Some businesses do want us to raise this,” Hunder said, adding that others “are treading very carefully.”The American Chamber of Commerce has raised the issue with visiting US lawmakers from both parties and asked them to bring it to the White House. Hunder said the organisation had also sought a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner last month to discuss the condition of American businesses in Ukraine, including the latest attacks. “We didn’t get any response on that,” he said.A White House official said Trump wanted the war to end and that his administration remained committed to efforts to secure peace.“The president and his team remain committed to continuing to play a constructive role in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, and he remains optimistic that we’ll ultimately get a peace deal done,” the official said, arguing that the US is “the only country in the world” that can “play a constructive role in speaking to both sides in working towards bringing the war to an end.”Trump had publicly expressed displeasure after a Russian strike on a US electronics factory in August 2025, saying he had told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he was “not happy about it”.Contrast with pressure on KyivThe administration’s response to attacks on American businesses contrasts with its pressure on Ukraine to stop striking Russian energy facilities. Trump has blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian diesel infrastructure for rising fuel prices, which have also been driven up by the US-Iran war.CNN reported in February that the administration had warned Kyiv that strikes on a Russian Black Sea oil facility late last year had affected US investments in Kazakhstan. In recent weeks, the US has also threatened to restrict intelligence sharing and ammunition supplies to Ukraine if it continues attacking Russian energy infrastructure, according to sources cited by CNN.Last Friday, Trump announced a deal to waive sanctions and purchase diesel from Russia, despite US law. Hunder said he struggled to understand the administration’s relative silence on attacks against American companies, particularly given its stated support for US businesses.“Any company, any business, wants to have some sort of protection. You would expect your government to stand up in your corner and fight the fight with you, especially if it’s a foreign military that is attacking the American companies,” he said.The former State Department official told CNN that officials in Washington often believe Ukraine-related discussions should be handled by Witkoff and Kushner, making it difficult for others to draw attention to the attacks.“The idea that you would get a rationale back” on why the US was silent about the attacks “is not something that people can expect,” they said.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.