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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Charles Wade-Palmer & Kieren Williams

Huge queues outside Russian McDonald's on last day before shutting over Ukraine war

Massive queues stretched outside McDonald’s in Russia on the fast-food chain’s last day in the country before it’s shuttered over the Ukrainian invasion.

As the Golden Arch is switched off for the final time, McDonald’s food and drink were being flogged at extortionate prices in Russia.

The American fast-food giant hit Russia with its own sanction in an act of solidarity with Ukraine as it shut down all of its 850 restaurants in the nation.

Following the announcement, which McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski first emailed to employees, huge queues grew across Russia with people desperate for a final taste of their famous burgers.

However, not everyone was there to enjoy the food one last time, some saw a chance to turn a pretty profit.

People wait in line to enter a McDonald's restaurant in Moscow (Vlad Karkov/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)

According to screengrabs from a Russian online marketplace, McDonald's meal prices have gone through the roof even though the food is being sold cold.

Some went even as far as trying to flog four burgers, nuggets and dipping sauce for a massive £250.

One budding businesswoman or man was trying to cash in on just two burgers, two drinks and a cherry pie for £46.

On top of that, Coca-Cola has cancelled its supplies to Russia, which has seen the price of a single cold glass of coke shoot up to £8.

McDonald's flagship Russian store in Pushkinskaya Square - which first opened in the USSR on January 31, 1990 (AFP via Getty Images)

In a statement, Mr Kempczinski said: "The conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Europe has caused unspeakable suffering to innocent people.

“As a System, we join the world in condemning aggression and violence and praying for peace.

"In the thirty-plus years that McDonald's has operated in Russia, we've become an essential part of the 850 communities in which we operate.

"At the same time, our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine."

Inside a McDonald's in Murmansk, the northernmost city in the world (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

One man even chained himself to a McDonald's screaming: “They don’t have the right to close down!”

As Vladimir Putin’s bloody invasion into Ukraine continues, McDonald’s said it is impossible to give any potential reopening date with supply issues also affecting restaurants across Russia.

Video footage posted online by Ukraine Live News showed cars lined up in a Moscow drive-thru and more photos shared on Twitter captured some desperate customers lining the streets on foot in the snow.

The stores closures will reportedly set back the company £50million a month.

One hardcore McDonald’s fan even filled their fridge with at least 50 burgers and shared a snap of it on Reddit.

McDonald's closure comes in direct response to Putin's bloody invasion of Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images)

The caption read: "McDonald's is permanently closing in Russia here is my friend's stash."

Others pointed out that if he so desired, he might be able to sell up and turn a good profit.

One person said: "So, what you're saying is, this is a solid long term investment with no risks?"

Another added: "Could probably leave it on the shelf and it would still be good for months."

A third joked: "If it's not for personal consumption, it sure is a good business opportunity to sell stale burgers at a jacked price."

A fourth added: "Have you eaten a day-old McDonald's burger? They're...not great.”

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