Russian McDonalds Lover Chains Himself To Store To Protest Closure

This footage shows a Russian fast-food lover chaining himself to a McDonald’s entrance after the company vowed to stop operating in the country over the invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian McDonald’s fan, named as Luka Safronov, went viral for staging his unusual protest outside a Moscow restaurant on Sunday.

Safronov is reportedly a pianist and composer and is said to be the son of Soviet and Russian artist Nikas Safronov.

Pianist Luka Safronov, (pictured) the son of famous Russian artist Nikas Safronov, staged his last-minute protest outside a McDonald’s store in Moscow, Russia, and chained himself to the entrance to stop it from closing down. (CEN)

He called the closure of the fast-food restaurants, due to take place today (14th March), “an act of hostility against me and my fellow citizens”.

In the footage, other McDonald’s customers are seen taking advantage of the final day of service for the foreseeable future by walking past the protester to order their grub.

Two weeks after the invasion of Ukraine began, McDonald’s has temporarily closed 850 stores across Russia.

Pianist Luka Safronov, the son of famous Russian artist Nikas Safronov, staged his last-minute protest outside a McDonald’s store in Moscow, Russia, and chained himself to the entrance to stop it from closing down. (CEN)

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski told around 62,000 employees in Russia that the company would continue to pay their wages despite the store closures.

He said: “As we move forward, McDonald’s will continue to assess the situation and determine if any additional measures are required.

“At this juncture, it’s impossible to predict when we might be able to reopen our restaurants in Russia.

Pianist Luka Safronov, the son of famous Russian artist Nikas Safronov, staged his last-minute protest outside a McDonald’s store in Moscow, Russia, and chained himself to the entrance to stop it from closing down. (CEN)

“We are experiencing disruptions to our supply chain along with other operational impacts. We will also closely monitor the humanitarian situation.”

The fast-food chain first opened in Russia in January 1990 during the final months of the Soviet Union, when most citizens had never sampled fast food before.

Over 30,000 residents queued in Pushkin Square in Moscow to order their first ever McDonald’s meal.

Pianist Luka Safronov, the son of famous Russian artist Nikas Safronov, staged his last-minute protest outside a McDonald’s store in Moscow, Russia, and chained himself to the entrance to stop it from closing down. (CEN)

Alongside the American chain, a number of other large corporations have ceased operating in Russia following the invasion.

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