Russian strike damages Philip Morris factory in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region – photos

The factory of U.S. tobacco giant Philip Morris International (PMI) in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region was damaged by a Russian missile strike on January 30, Philip Morris Ukraine’s press service told LIGA.net.

Earlier on January 30, Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that a civilian enterprise in the village of Dokuchaevske had been damaged by shelling. Philip Morris later confirmed that the facility was its factory.

"Rescue services are working at the scene and firefighting efforts are ongoing," the company said.

According to the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, the strike caused a large-scale fire at the company’s warehouse facilities, covering an area of more than 5,000 square meters.

No casualties or injuries were reported, as all employees on duty were in shelters at the time of the attack.

Philip Morris’ Kharkiv factory has not been operational since February 24, 2022, the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In 2024, the company opened a new factory in the Lviv region, investing $30 million in the project. Around 250 employees from the Kharkiv facility were relocated to work at the new plant.

Philip Morris has become another U.S. company whose business in Ukraine has been affected by Russian shelling.

On August 21, 2025, Russia struck the Flex Ukraine (Flextronics) plant in Mukachevo, and on January 5, 2026, the Oleina plant in Dnipro, owned by Bunge, was damaged.

• In February 2023, Philip Morris acknowledged that it might never fully exit the Russian market. CEO Jacek Olczak said the company had held talks with at least three potential buyers, but negotiations stalled due to uncertainty over how to complete a deal without significant losses for PMI shareholders.