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McDonald’s Reportedly Makes a Surprise Move to Protect Its Brand in Russia
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
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American corporation McDonald’s has filed a series of applications with Rospatent, the Russian federal agency for intellectual property, seeking to register its trademarks in Russia, according to reports from Russian state media TASS on April 26.
The applications were submitted in December 2024 and accepted for review in April 2025. As of now, they are undergoing formal and substantive examination stages, according to information from Rospatent’s public database.
Under the “McDonald’s” trademark, the company is seeking rights to produce and sell beverages and fast food products, provide restaurant services, and offer food delivery in Russia.
Speaking to Russian media, Alina Akynshina, CEO of the intellectual property firm “Online Patent,” stated that McDonald’s has a strong chance of securing trademark registration, noting that the company has retained rights to all key McDonald’s brands in Russia.
McDonald’s suspended operations in Russia in March 2022 following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and formally exited the Russian market in May 2022.
Its assets were sold to Russian businessman Alexander Govor, a former franchisee managing McDonald’s restaurants in Siberia. The rebranded restaurants reopened under the name “Vkusno — i Tochka” (“Tasty — and that’s it”).
UPD: McDonald’s Denies Plans to Return to Russia
On April 26, McDonald’s issued a statement on X, refuting media speculation about its potential return to Russia. The company explained that it routinely renews trademark rights worldwide, including in countries where it no longer operates, to protect its brand from unauthorized use.
McDonald’s emphasized that its position remains unchanged: it was one of the first international businesses to condemn Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and exited the Russian market in May 2022. The corporation reaffirmed its commitment to these values.
Earlier, an investigation by The Insider revealed that Israeli companies continued supplying high-precision metalworking tools to Russia’s defense sector in 2024, despite international sanctions. Tools from firms like ISCAR, Vargus, Carmex, and EROJET were used in the production of S-400 systems and Su-35 fighter jets, often routed through intermediaries in China and Uzbekistan.
