Jul. 29 — During a debate in the US Senate on a bill imposing new sanctions against Russia, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen showed a photo of the Philip Morris factory in Kharkiv oblast, which was damaged by a Russian attack on Jan. 30, 2026.

According to Shaheen, Russia is deliberately targeting Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. This includes businesses of international companies that continue to work in the country.

“This is a rescuer at the Philip Morris factory in Kharkiv. They attacked Coca-Cola, Cargill, Mondelez, and other American companies,” she said, pointing at the photo.

Representatives of American businesses working in Ukraine told the senator that the Russian attacks on their companies were deliberate, Shaheen said.

In her speech, Shaheen said that economic pressure remains one of the most effective ways to affect Russia, since limiting its income could reduce the Kremlin’s ability to finance the war.

On Jul. 29, the US Senate passed a procedural vote in favor of a bill that would impose stronger sanctions on Russia, reported Ukrainian media Suspilne.

Philip Morris has been operating in Ukraine since 1994. The company remains one of the largest investors in the country. In the first half of 2026 alone, it paid $82.6 millions in taxes. 

The Philip Morris factory in the Kharkiv oblast hasn’t been working since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022. In two years, they opened a new factory in the Lviv region to relocate 250 workers from their Kharkiv oblast factory.

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