The Resilience of Hot Dogs in War

There are now 27 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs located in Ukraine, but a couple of years ago, that wasn’t the case. Starting in 2019, Nathan’s was just beginning its journey to Ukraine, and it’s thanks to one man, Oleksiy Dronov.

Socar, a popular gas station company in Ukraine, was searching for a special type of hot dog. They wanted something different from the traditional French-style dogs found in nearby stores. They wanted a captivating piece for their stations. That was when one of Dronov’s bosses mentioned that he had tried Nathan’s on Coney Island, and they had left their mark.

Dronov began by emailing the generic company email found on their website; there was no response. Some time later, after sending a capturing email about how if KFC had found its way to Ukraine, then why shouldn’t Nathan’s, he found himself in contact with Oliver Powers, the Vice President of the franchise. Socar’s dream of bringing the New York-style hot dog to Ukraine was accomplished through these endless emails. This final interaction with Powers led to a deal being signed with Socar and Nathan’s, but the timing couldn’t have been more unfortunate.

The first Nathan’s opened in the very early stages of the pandemic. Then, in 2022, a devastating war struck the country. In the early stages of the war, the future of Nathan’s in Ukraine looked painful. Initially, Powers checked in with Dronov on a few separate occasions. Powers questioned him about his well-being and provided him with support from the American team’s side. Dronov responded with the best he could, and that was that. As the war continued with full force, daily life in Ukraine adapted to conform to it. This meant that Nathan’s was able to persevere through the hardships and continue providing the same hot-dog-selling standards as before.

While some things aren’t the same, like keeping up with the annual Coney Island hot dog eating contest, Nathan’s in Ukraine stands out despite the odds. Providing for men, women, and families alike, Nathan’s is a sign of strength and resilience for the country and shows just how much meaning can be behind a singular hot dog. (Written July 26, 2025)