As U.S. support for Ukraine dwindles, speculation arises that Ukraine is intensifying propaganda to secure funding for its conflict with Russia. This is fueled by social media videos of a soldier feigning injury, which are mischaracterized as government propaganda but are actually part of an independent music video honoring soldiers. The creators, including military personnel, emphasize their intent to celebrate camaraderie rather than manipulate public sentiment, countering claims of orchestration for aid.
Is Ukraine Amplifying Propaganda to Fund the War?
As the backing of the United States for Ukraine appears to be waning, there are questions about whether Ukraine is ramping up its propaganda efforts to secure funding for its ongoing conflict with Russia. This notion is fueled by a series of videos circulating on social media, where a young woman in military garb is shown being made up. The subsequent footage depicts her lying on the ground, feigning injury after a battle.
Responses on social media platforms like X reveal skepticism, with comments claiming, “Zelensky only knows how to lie and manipulate!” and accusing the Ukrainian president of orchestrating dramatic setups to solicit more assistance. Despite these assertions, the narrative is misleading, as these visuals are actually from the behind-the-scenes of a music video, produced independently without government or military involvement.
The Heartfelt Message Behind the Music
The origins of these videos can be easily traced. Observant internet users noted the watermark from TikTok and the account name associated with the footage. With a few clicks, one can discover the profile of ‘vitsikkkk2,’ where all the clips recently shared on X can be found. The account’s caption mentions a music video, which is readily available on YouTube.
The song is titled ‘Брати,’ translating to ‘brothers’ in Ukrainian. It features a duet by artists ‘Vitsik’ and ‘Misha Scorpion,’ celebrating “the true brotherhood forged in battle,” as stated in the YouTube video description. This heartfelt tribute honors soldiers on the front lines, highlighting the camaraderie that develops during wartime and the support they provide to one another during challenging times.
TF1info reached out to ‘Vitsik,’ whose real name is Viktor. He identifies as a “military nurse” active in the Kurakhove region of Donetsk Oblast and shares, “I sing and write songs.” He emphasizes that “the music video has no commercial purpose” and clarifies that “the authorities did not fund its creation.” This project is a personal initiative, featuring extras who are all military personnel, some of whom have been captured by Russian forces. The descriptions in the video highlight various soldiers, identified as “defenders of Azovstal,” the steel plant in Mariupol that was besieged in March 2022.
The recontextualization of these images on social media to criticize Ukraine and its leaders has not been well-received by Viktor’s community. Maryana, the young woman featured in the makeup scene, expressed her feelings on Instagram regarding the backlash aimed at her and her fellow soldiers. “It’s disheartening to see and hear this, especially from individuals who don’t grasp even a fraction of what war entails,” she commented. “The creators of these narratives likely hope that such blatant falsehoods will resonate with specific voter bases.”
While some scenes were indeed staged for the music video, it is misleading to imply that this was a government-driven effort to evoke sympathy and attract foreign aid. Additionally, the final product does not attempt to portray scripted moments as genuine, and the artists openly intended to show their support for military comrades engaged in the conflict against Russia. It’s important to note that the video features lyrics in Ukrainian, and the artists have not actively sought to promote it to an international audience, making it unlikely to be viewed as a tactic to sway Western allies of Kiev.