Not lovin' it: McDonald's shuts operations in Crimea

Kiev: McDonald's has closed down its franchises in Crimea. The US fast-food giant has suspended work for ‘manufacturing reasons' in Simferopol, Sevastopol and Yalta.

The outlet at Sevastopol, Crimea stays shut after the fast-food giant closed all Crimean centres. Pic/Imagelibrary/EPA

McDonald's is the second international company to cease operations in Crimea this week, following the peninsula's hasty annexation by Russia last month.

McDonald's, which operates three restaurants in Crimea, said it hoped to resume work as soon as possible, but offered to help relocate staff to Ukraine, even offering three months housing paid for by the company.

"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,' it said in a statement.