When War Hits the Workplace: The Story of an American Enterprise Destroyed in Ukraine
Flextronics, which was struck by a Russian missile on the morning of August 21. Source: President of Ukraine In Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region, where the Carpathian foothills meet quiet towns, few expected war to touch their everyday routines. For the 600 workers of Flextronics in Mukachevo, a plant making coffee machines, LED lamps, and printer cartridges, August 21 was supposed to be just another day at work. Instead, it became a stark reminder that in today’s Russia-Ukraine war, no part of the country is truly safe. That morning, as air-raid sirens sounded, employees moved quickly to shelters. Minutes later, two Russian missiles slammed into the Flextronics facility, tearing through the production halls and setting parts of the factory ablaze. Thanks to the evacuation, no lives were lost — but 17 workers were injured, and the plant itself was left crippled. Civilian Industry, Military Target What makes the strike all the more jarring is that Flextronics isn’t a defense contractor...