Russian strikes on US-linked facilities
Since last summer, facilities connected to major American companies including Coca-Cola, Cargill, Boeing, Mondelez and Philip Morris have come under Russian attack in Ukraine, according to The New York Times. The newspaper reports that the strikes have targeted infrastructure linked to these firms, but the US administration under President Donald Trump has offered virtually no public response. One of the most recent incidents occurred in mid-April, when a grain terminal owned by the American agricultural giant Cargill was struck by seven Russian drones within three minutes at a southern Ukrainian port. The Times obtained and verified video footage recorded by a truck driver during the attack.
Corporate concerns over targeted campaign
Companies have largely avoided publicising such incidents, fearing reactions from investors and insurers. The Times notes that details of strikes on Cargill and Coca-Cola facilities had not previously been disclosed. Privately, however, these firms have expressed alarm to US officials about what they perceive as a deliberate and intensifying campaign against American commercial interests in Ukraine. Despite promises from Washington to protect US business abroad, the White House has refrained from any forceful response.
White House response limited to acknowledgment
The Trump administration has not condemned any of the attacks reported by Ukraine this year. After US diplomats in Kyiv, along with Ukrainian business leaders and officials, warned about the strikes, the administration’s reply amounted to little more than acknowledging the concerns, according to three people familiar with the matter. Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, said: “They are launching these missiles and drones in the hope that it will stop American business from coming to Ukraine.”
