Gen. Col. Bonkathan

Today, October 30th, my dad has been killed in action. My kind, calm father. I write it here because I know my dad has many friends in the NAFO community, people who he could rely on for help. His memory will perdure on this account. Forever loved and missed. 🛡️🕯️❤️

🚨 Russia Targets American Businesses in Kyiv: Iconic McDonald’s Endures Repeated Attacks From Russian Ballistic Missiles Proving Russia’s Disdain For America 🚨 3 days ago, Russia launched 40 ballistic missiles into Kyiv, Ukraine, striking civilian districts in the Ukrainian capital, and the oldest @McDonalds in Ukraine, underscoring the human and symbolic cost of Moscow’s war. The McDonalds in Kyiv, Ukraine’s very first, opened in 1997, has become one of the most resilient symbols of defiance during the war. The restaurant has sustained damage at least seven times since the full-scale invasion began, most recently from blast waves during a massive strike on May 24, 2026, its 29th anniversary. Workers sheltered safely, and despite the structural damage and holes in the building from shrapnel, the restaurant opened days later. McDonald’s represents one of the most recognizable American brands globally, and it has come to be known as a symbol for U.S. entrepreneurship, fast service, and consumer culture. Its golden arches stand as a post-Soviet emblem of openness and Western integration in Ukraine. In stark contrast, McDonald’s no longer operates under its name in Russia after exiting the market in 2022 amid US sanctions and widespread condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Across Ukraine, American and Western businesses, alongside countless local enterprises, have been damaged or destroyed by Russian strikes on cities far from the front lines. Malls, supermarkets, offices, and restaurants have all been caught in the crossfire of Russian ballistic missiles, drones, and glide bombs targeting civilian infrastructure. These attacks on ordinary gathering places, where families eat, students meet, and workers grab quick meals, sends a clear message. Russia is not an ally of the United States or the West. By striking symbols of Western presence and normal civilian life, and by firing at American businesses, Moscow demonstrates contempt for the very idea of a prosperous, Western-oriented Ukraine. Ukrainian resilience remains undiminished, and that is what I have noticed on day 2 of my time in Ukraine. Despite nonstop attacks, the Ukrainian people are determined to continue living their life. McDonald’s Ukraine serves burgers under a sign warped by past explosions, and it is a daily reminder that life, and American-inspired enterprise, persists amid the rubble and destruction inflicted by Russia. It’s also a reminder that Russia wants to destroy American businesses. Kyiv’s McDonalds is not collateral damage. It is the deliberate targeting of a society trying to live normally and free from communism. The world should take note.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Even though I never eat fast food, I ordered a cheeseburger, fries and a Diet Coke to show my support. There’s nothing like enjoying a meal with the backdrop of a Russian ballistic missile attack and blown out windows at McDonalds to really make you appreciate being an American and evaluate your prior perspective on US support for Ukraine. What’s happening in Ukraine today can and will happen in America in the near future if we do not stop communism and multipolarity.

I do not say this lightly: As a new and virulent strain of antisemitism spreads via algorithmic media and artificial intelligence, my life's work an an historian has been a failure. What now? A new essay with John-Clark Levin for @TheFP

🫣😖“Girls, when is this going to end?!” It looks like someone had a bit of a meltdown after seeing the drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region.