McDonald’s Ukraine sees 82% profit surge amid global sales slump
Source: Forbes Ukraine
McDonald’s Ukraine has reported a remarkable 82% surge in profits for the first half of 2024, defying global trends, according to Forbes Ukraine report. The fast-food giant’s Ukrainian branch saw its revenue skyrocket by 44%, reaching 7.8 billion hryvnias. The company’s profit jumped to 874.8 million hryvnias from 479.8 million hryvnias over the same period last year.
In contrast to this booming performance, McDonald’s faced a significant downturn globally. For the first time in nearly four years, the company’s worldwide sales dipped, attributed to rising prices and prolonged boycotts amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Global revenue held steady at $6.5 billion, but net profit took a 12% hit, falling to $2 billion.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s has been active in expansion and renovation across Ukraine. The company recently closed a location near Kyiv’s Central Railway Station for a makeover while opening a new restaurant in Chernivtsi. With nearly 100 restaurants now operating across the country, McDonald’s Ukraine is clearly bucking the global trend.
After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.
Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.
Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.
Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.