McDonald's decides to shut nearly 1,000 outlets across Russia and Ukraine

Firm will continue to pay staff as it reverses the position it announced earlier this week that it intended to keep trading

McDonald's said earlier this week that it intended to remain open in Russia, even as many western companies closed operations.

McDonald’s is temporarily closing all 850 of its Russian locations, following mounting criticism that the chain failed to act quickly following the nation’s invasion of Ukraine.

The company will continue paying its 62,000 employees in Russia, McDonald’s said in a letter from chief executive Chris Kempczinski.