Video footage showed firefighting crews at the scene and smoke rising above the plant. Russian drones struck and damaged a Coca-Cola plant outside the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Thursday, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said was a clear signal to America. Video footage circulating online showed firefighting crews arriving at the scene near the town of Brovary, east of the capital, and smoke rising above the plant and over nearby fields. “Today, the Russians have hit a Coca-Cola plant with their drone. Coca-Cola is such an enemy that they set it on fire with their Shaheds,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, referring to Iranian-designed drones. “It's a clear Russian signal to America. The Russians cannot be unaware that this is an American facility.” Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, said the plant's staff were uninjured. "The company is working with the relevant authorities to assess the situation," Hunder told Reuters. "Ensuring the safety and well-being of people remains top priority."
Smoke rises over the Coca-Cola facility after the Russian drone strike in Kyiv region. (screenshot/Reuters)