In Photos: Moscow Residents Feel Consequences of Ukraine War

Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and tough Western sanctions, some parts of life in the capital remain the same.

Since the beginning of the invasion on Feb. 24, thousands of people have been detained at Moscow’s anti-war rallies.

A large number of Russians, many of them from Moscow, have been fleeing abroad, fearing the deteriorating economic and political consequences of the Ukraine conflict.

The supply of imported goods and foods into Russia has been disrupted by the ongoing conflict and heavy sanctions, resulting in rising prices.

Sugar has been one of the most sought-after items among Russian buyers, and there have been reports of sugar shortages.

The Russian government has assured citizens that there will be no risk of domestic food shortages.

Officials claimed that “panic buying” is behind the empty shelves in Russian stores and advised Russians not to buy goods such as sugar and buckwheat in large quantities.

Moscow's largest airport, Sheremetyevo, announced that it had furloughed a fifth of its staff and stopped further recruitment due to a sharp decrease of international travel stemming from airspace bans with Western countries.

With hundreds of Western companies pulling out of Russia in solidarity with Ukraine, many Moscow sites don’t look the same — including the capital's popular McDonald's locations.

The closure of the McDonald's on Moscow's Pushkin Square, the fast-food chain’s first location to open in Russia, marked a new era for a country that has been relatively open to the Western world for the past 30 years.

A mass exodus of foreign companies from Russia has put thousands of people out of work.

A Russian court banned Facebook and Instagram Monday, labeling their parent company Meta as “extremist.”

The move came as a big blow to many Muscovites, who have become especially attached to Instagram, a platform that is beloved by millions of Russians and is a vital tool for many small businesses.

Major oil companies like Shell have pulled out of Russia since the invasion, putting the global energy market in disarray.

A food truck next to a closed McDonald's location in Moscow.

A closed BP gas station.

Despite the city's rapidly changing landscape and rising prices, many Muscovites go about their day as usual, enjoying warmer weather, local restaurants and events.

While many Hollywood studios suspended releases of their films in Russia, Moscow residents can see Russian and other foreign films in local cinemas.

Muscovites can still also enjoy the city's vibrant theater scene, which hasn’t been impacted by the sanctions to the same extent as the film industry.

While life goes on in Moscow despite the events in Ukraine, it is hard to ignore the mass closures of international companies, soaring prices and increased police presence.