Viral Video of the Opening of Uncle Vanya Restaurant in Russia Is an Artwork

Khadija Boufous

Artsandculture

2nd April 2022

Viral Video of the Opening of Uncle Vanya Restaurant in Russia Is an Artwork

The video is a digital creation (Twitter).

The Claim

The video depicts the first Uncle Vanya restaurant opening in Russia, replacing McDonald’s.

News posted on

Sputnik

Euromaidan Press

Anonymous

Sphithiphithi Evaluator

Anonymous Operations

KT CounterIntelligence

Emerging story

Social media users have circulated a video claiming it depicts the first Uncle Vanya restaurant’s opening in Russia, replacing McDonald’s.

JUST IN: First 'Uncle Vanya' restaurant opens in Moscow pic.twitter.com/Kc7CjMuMgS
— Sputnik (@Sputnik_Not) March 24, 2022

The first Uncle Vanya restaurant is to open up in Russia in place of McDonald's pic.twitter.com/VC0oILTNf0
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) March 25, 2022

Misbar’s Analysis

Mibsar has investigated the claim and found it to be misleading.

The video is an artwork uploaded to Instagram by Mazur Gleb, who describes himself as a 3D artist, on March 24, 2022.

A supporting image within the article body

Description: The video is an artwork.

The claim started to circulate after a native fast-food restaurant called Uncle Vanya made news of a McDonald’s replacement, using a similar logo to the McDonald’s iconic Golden Arches. According to news reports, the trademark application appeared online after Russia removed patent protection for international companies as a response to the international sanctions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

News outlets stated that the shuttering of 850 McDonald's franchises around Russia could be temporary, but nothing suggests the consequences of western companies' exodus will solve the conflict soon.