A McDonald’s has reopened in Mykolaiv after a four-year hiatus: here’s how it went

On Friday, 27 March, a McDonald’s officially opened in Mykolaiv. Locals had been queuing since early morning.

According to a NikVesti correspondent, people began gathering outside the restaurant entrance as early as 5 am. By 10 am, there were already around 200 of them.

However, there was no rush to open the doors to the public, as officials were visiting the restaurant. Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych, Head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Vitalii Kim, MPs and officials were spotted. They were shown how the kitchen works and the food preparation processes. By 11:30, the doors were opened to the public and people began rushing inside.

It should be noted that the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant in Mykolaiv closed at the start of the full-scale invasion. According to the restaurant’s press office, its opening was delayed due to water supply issues following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station; however, after the construction of a new water pipeline and confirmation of water quality, the restaurant was able to resume operations.

«The restaurant in Mykolaiv was due to open much earlier — shortly after the resumption of operations in Odesa in 2023. But following the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, the city faced a difficult water situation, and we could not resume operations until conditions met our safety and quality standards. Following the construction of a new water pipeline and consistent results from all water quality audits, we can finally operate again in Mykolaiv. For us, this isn’t just the opening of a restaurant — it’s the return of business, jobs and a sense of normality for the city,» comments Yuliia Badrytdynova, CEO of McDonald’s in Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

It should be noted that the restaurant is open daily: the dining area from 7:00 to 23:00, and the ‘McDrive’ from 5:00 to 23:30. Mobile ordering via the app is also available to customers. The restaurant has created over 100 jobs. However, in the first few weeks, the restaurant will operate with a limited menu — without breakfast options — and delivery will become available later.

McDonald’s emphasises that during an air raid alert, the restaurant will temporarily close so that visitors and staff can take shelter. The restaurant in Mykolaiv has become the 125th outlet in the chain operating in Ukraine.

Take a look at our photo report to see how it all went.