Getting a Big Mac in Moscow has got a lot harder.

Russia's food safety watchdog has temporarily shut down four McDonald's in Moscow for what it says are sanitary violations.

The closures came amid worsening ties between US and Russia over the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

The move prompting some to wonder if it's politically motivated. 

One of the McDonald's affected by the closures is the first one to have opened in Russia.

The company says its the most frequented McDonald's in the world, and they're hoping to get back to business as soon as possible.

Russian food safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said it is also conducting unscheduled checks at McDonald's restaurants in Sverdlovsk region.

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