Russian drones targeted and caused damage to a Coca-Cola facility near Kyiv, as confirmed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The incident occurred in Brovary, east of the capital, with no reported injuries. Zelenskyy emphasized the significance of the attack, referring to it as a deliberate message from Russia to the United States due to the American ownership of the facility.
Images captured by Reuters TV showed firefighting teams responding to the scene, with smoke billowing from the plant. Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, reassured that the plant’s employees were unharmed and that efforts were underway to assess the situation and ensure the safety of all individuals.
The Coca-Cola Company affirmed that the affected plant is operated by Coca-Cola HBC, an independent bottler. In a statement, Coca-Cola HBC expressed relief that all employees were safe and unharmed, pledging cooperation with authorities to evaluate the aftermath of the attack.
The assault on the Coca-Cola plant is a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which escalated into a full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022, plunging the region into a prolonged state of war.