At the end of April 2025, reports of the restaurant network plans to return to the Russian market appeared in Telegram channels. We checked the reliability of such publications.
On April 26, Russian -speaking media extended a picture of applications for registration of a trademark, filed by McDonald’s to the Russian Federal Intellectual Property Service (Rospatent). “McDonald’s is returning to Russia,” commented the news Telegram channel "Dual"(268,000 views at the time of writing this analysis), similar posts released, for example,"Uncle Glory"(172 000) and"Russian economy"(123,000). Other bloggers have chosen less unambiguous formulations like “McDonald’s is preparing to return to Russia” or “McDonald’s wants to return to Russia”, such publications are posted in the channels "Axe. Economy"(2.8 million)," "Sanya in Florida"(498 000) and"NN"(290 000). The news also became viral in Tiktok - there appeared dozens videowhose authors Congratulations their subscribers with the return of the popular fast food in the Russian Federation.
In May 2022, shortly after the start of a full -scale invasion of the Russian Federation to Ukraine, a network of fast -food restaurants McDonald’s, like many Western companies, decided Leave from the Russian market. Then the corporation She saidthat "the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, as well as an unpredictable business environment led McDonald’s to the conclusion that further owning a business in Russia is more inappropriate and does not correspond to the values of the company."
McDonald’s application for extension of registration of a trademark in the Russian Federation, picture which was dispersed after almost three years through the media and Telegram channels, genuine-“verified” found the appropriate Record In the registry on the Rospatent website. The application was submitted back in December 2024, but it began to be widely discussed only in April 2025, which provoked a surge of speculation. Moreover, on site company and her Pages There are no reports on the resumption of business in Russia in social networks.

The fact is that the submission of such a application does not indicate McDonald’s plans to return to the Russian market. We are talking exclusively about the standard legal procedure: the company sent this document to Rospatent only to protect its intellectual property. On April 26, the Ukrainian unit McDonald’s published on social network X statement, in which it refuted the speculation on the possible return of the network to Russia. “McDonald’s regularly updates ownership of its brands around the world, even in those countries where the company does not conduct any activity,” the press release explains.
Back in May 2022, leaving the Russian market against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, McDonald’s directly declaredthat will retain the rights to trademarks in order to avoid their use by third parties. The company emphasized: "We will stop using our brand in Russia, but we will save its legal protection." There were Russian institutions Transmitted The new owners were earned under the brand “delicious - and point”, however, McDonald’s reserved the possibility of reverse ransom for 15 years.

Previously, in social networks was distributed A similar fake On the “return” in the Russian Federation of the Coffee Coffee Coffee Starbucks network, also based on the fact that the company has applied to Rospatent. By the way, not only McDonald’s and Starbucks continue to protect their brands in Russia - similar applications have previously sent IKEA, Visa, Coca-Cola and other companies.
About the possible return of the American network of restaurants, users of social networks began write At the beginning of the year, shortly after the publication of the application in the register of Rospatent. But the current, where the largest wave of speculation began after exit on the site "RIA Novosti"Notes with the heading" McDonald’s applied for registration of a trademark in Russia. " The article, published on the morning of April 26, quoted the General Director of Online Patent Alina Akinina - she believes that the application of the application indicates the reaction of the American company to the expected changes in Russian legislation regarding the requirements for the placement of signs in Russian. “This position confirms proactive monitoring of the Russian legislative field by McDonald's and the company's potential interest in returning to the Russian market,” said Akinshina. Apparently, it was these her words that were incorrectly interpreted by Telegram channels.
Thus, as follows from the statement of the company itself, McDonald’s does not have specific plans to return to the Russian market. Recent speculations on this subject are caused by the application of the corporation to extend the registration of a trademark in Russia. However, this is not the first step towards the opening of restaurants, but rather insurance against the unscrupulous use of the famous brand (and the practice common in international business).
Photo on the cover: Wikimedia Commons
Read on the topic:
- Deutsche Welle. Secret Sign: Foreign companies retain the rights to a brand in the Russian Federation
- T-j. What is known about the return of Western companies to Russia
- Is it true that the countries that McDonald’s restaurants work are not fighting with each other?
- Is it true that food from McDonald's has not spoiled for years?
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