With war raging in eastern Ukraine, efforts to boost the morale of Ukrainians and entice some to join the fight are on the rise. Most noticeable are the many videos being broadcast on public TV channels, as well as those published on YouTube and widely shared on social media.
“These kind of videos encourage people to donate and help the army,” says Serhiy Sharaevskyi, director of video production studio “Pravda Pro.”
One such video, created by the Ukrainian company Good Media Production, shows government soldiers being met with applause by waiting passengers at an airport. The video is a spin-off of an American video made and broadcast during the Iraq war. The scene is nearly identical, save for the American soldiers are returning from the battlefield, while the Ukrainians are leaving for war.
“The idea of meeting the soldiers was used in many countries – in the States and in Israel, and in Georgia. We thought it was the most appropriate way to convey the basic idea – to show how Ukrainians started treating their army,” producer Kyryl Tymoshenko told Telekritika.
The Ukrainian “Come home safe” video reached 37,804 views on YouTube in 5 days.
The Ukrainian video is a spin-off of this American Budweiser Army Commercial that shows soldiers coming home from Iraq.
Espresso TV, an online video news channel, has also produced a video meant to raise the country’s spirits. It created the video “Batallion Kyiv-1,” in which a young soldier preparing to depart to Dnipropetrovsk notices an older veteran with whom he exchanges salutes.
“You bravely defended our freedom. We are honored to protect it and restore peace,” says a voice at the end of the video. It has been viewed more 57,000 times in six days.
The Ukrainian army commercial reached 57,687 views in 6 days and is broadcast on major news channels, including Channel 5, owned by President Petro Poroshenko.
Ukrainian channel STB shot its own video, which shows a soldier making a video letter to his mother.
“Hi, mom. Do you remember when I asked you for a brother? Now I have 22 of them,” he says. The video shows fighting scenes with the soldier before finishing with the message: “The army is an honor for those who serve and for those who wait.”
“These soldiers are defending our freedom and dignity, showing the enemy our strength and power, patriotism and devotion to their country and its people,” says the description of this army video.
In the comment section beneath the video, most users weigh in with their political views. But some leave feedback for the video creators.
“It has a sense of pride and sincere gratitude and hope. Thank you! We pray for you and Ukraine!” read one message.
Kyiv Post staff writer Iryna Yeroshko can be reached at [email protected].
