Russia strikes US business facilities in Ukraine; Trump administration stays silent

Russian drone and missile strikes have damaged facilities linked to major American corporations operating in Ukraine, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, McDonald's, and Oreo, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine. The escalation began in early September 2026, when a Russian drone struck a Coca-Cola factory outside Kyiv. In late September, a warehouse operated by McDonald's logistics partner in the Kyiv region was damaged in a drone attack, forcing the company to offer a reduced menu. PepsiCo reported damage to a production facility in the Mykolaiv region in August, with no casualties. Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, told CNN the strikes represent a deliberate targeting campaign unlike previous efforts to deter American business investment.

Despite the attacks on US-linked facilities, the Trump administration has not issued a public condemnation of the Russian strikes. A White House official stated that Trump "wants the war to stop entirely so the senseless killing ends" and that the administration is "committed to continuing to play a constructive role in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine." In August 2025, Trump had publicly stated he was "not happy" about a Russian strike on a US electronics factory and said he had told President Vladimir Putin as much. However, the administration has simultaneously pressured Ukraine to cease strikes on Russian refineries, citing potential harm to American consumers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the Coca-Cola factory strike as "a clear signal from Russia to America," stating that "the Russians cannot possibly be unaware that this is an American enterprise." Zelensky described the pattern of attacks as part of a broader Russian escalation targeting "American and other businesses, data centers, internet providers," characterizing ordinary civilian life as a target. Several Democratic US lawmakers have publicly called on the White House to increase protection for American businesses in Ukraine and condemn Moscow's actions more forcefully.

US companies operating in Ukraine hold differing views on public disclosure of attacks. While some businesses have asked the Chamber of Commerce to raise concerns with US officials, others are "treading very carefully" about discussing their targeting, according to a former senior State Department official. The Chamber has requested visiting lawmakers from both parties to raise the matter with the White House during trips to Kyiv. Hunder stressed the financial stakes, saying "we need this to stop because these are American interests, American money, American investors that are being hit and are being targeted."