Russian Missile Damages Ukraine’s First McDonald’s

A Russian missile strike on Kyiv’s Lukianivka district on Saturday, January 18, caused significant damage to Ukraine’s first McDonald’s restaurant, located near the Lukianivska metro station. The attack claimed the lives of three individuals.

The McDonald’s in Lukianivka, which first opened its doors on May 27, 1997, was a landmark in Ukraine’s post-Soviet history. As the first establishment of the global fast-food chain in the country, it symbolized Ukraine’s opening to international markets and Western culture.

At the time of its opening, the restaurant quickly gained popularity among Kyiv residents. Long queues formed as people eagerly awaited their turn to try the menu, which included hamburgers priced at approximately $1.05 and Big Macs at around $3.68.

Since that first opening, McDonald’s has expanded its presence across Ukraine, with 106 locations operating as of October last year. Despite this growth, the original Lukianivka location has remained iconic, representing a period of transformation and modernization for the country.

Following the attack, McDonald’s Ukraine released an official statement via X, confirming the damage to the historic restaurant: “During today’s air raid on Kyiv, the McDonald’s near Lukianivska metro station, operating since 1997 and our first restaurant in Ukraine, was damaged.

Thanks to strict adherence to safety protocols, our employees successfully evacuated to shelters. None of our staff or the restaurant’s security personnel were harmed, and this is what matters most.

Our team is currently working on addressing the consequences of the strike, and we will undoubtedly restore our restaurant at Lukianivka.”

Earlier, Russian missile strikes on Kyiv claimed the lives of at least three people, as confirmed by Mayor Vitali Klitschko. The attack caused damage to residential and non-residential buildings, a water supply line, and the entrance to the Lukianivska metro station, which was temporarily closed.