Crimeans will no longer be able to get a Big Mac as McDonald's shutters on the peninsula

McDonald's has suspended operations at its three locations in Crimea for "manufacturing reasons" as Western companies are getting increasingly worried about the potential impact that Russia's annexation will have on the peninsula.

Although the company said it hopes to reopen its Crimean locations as quickly as possible, it's offering to relocate employees to its Ukrainian outposts. "The company has provided an opportunity to all employees ... to transfer to any other McDonald's restaurants in Ukraine preserving their positions, salaries and fees and paying to relocate employees and their families," McDonald's said in a statement.

Crimea's new Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliyev said Russian-based fast-food companies will likely replace McDonald's in the area. "Russia has a lot of its own cafe chains, including fast food, and they can promptly take this niche," he said.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up