US-Owned Factory Hit in Sumy Oblast
A production facility owned by the American multinational confectionery giant Mondelez International in Trostianets, Sumy Oblast, northeastern Ukraine, was struck by a Russian missile on February 21, 2026. Ukrainian officials reported the incident on February 22, confirming that one of the factory's production buildings sustained damage. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the attack.
Ukrainian Officials Condemn Strike
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced the strike on social media, stating that the missile hit a civilian production facility. Sybiha emphasized that the factory, which has operated since the 1990s, is 'not a military target, but a factory that employs Ukrainians and contributes to both our and the American economies.' He characterized the attack as a deliberate act of 'economic terror' aimed at international business interests and argued that such actions undermine any possibility of diplomatic economic discussions between Washington and Moscow.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko also commented on the incident, asserting that 'When Russia targets facilities owned by American companies on Ukrainian soil, it does so knowingly.' Svyrydenko noted that Mondelez had invested over $250 million into the factory over the years, and a video she posted showed the facility heavily damaged. Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, highlighted a broader pattern, stating that 'Forty-seven percent of the members of the American Chamber of Commerce have had damage or destruction to their facilities across Ukraine.'
Factory Produces Global Brands
The Trostianets facility is a significant industrial hub responsible for manufacturing a range of globally recognized brands. These include:
- Oreo cookies
- Milka chocolate
- Toblerone chocolate
- Jacobs coffee
- Korona chocolate
- Dirol chewing gum
- Tuc crackers
- Barni sponge cakes
Mondelez's Operations and Broader Context
As of the time of reporting, Mondelez International has not issued an official statement regarding the extent of operational disruptions at the Trostianets plant. The company continues to maintain operations in Russia, where it has three factories, and was previously included in Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) register of 'International War Sponsors.' This strike follows previous incidents where Russian forces have targeted American business assets in Ukraine, raising concerns about the security of foreign investment in the conflict zone.
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