A video that went viral in August 2023 showed a beach party at the Fifty Beach Club in Kiev. At first glance you might think it was a normal summer day in Europe. But the background of these recordings is a war-torn country: Ukraine. This video was used by some Internet users as “proof” that the war in Ukraine was a fake.
The real story behind the clip
The video is real and was recorded on August 6, 2023. We have located the source of the viral video. The footage was originally posted on August 6, 2023 by TikTok user @zhadyft .
After the video was widely shared, he, in turn, wrote on Twitter that they wanted to use the footage to show that “ people in Ukraine can live a normal life thanks to all the air defense systems we received from the USA, Germany, etc. ” .
I am the original author that made this video on my TikTok page and I am only showing that people in Ukraine can live a normal life thanks to all the air defense systems that we have received from USA, Germany etc. pic.twitter.com/ JmbmTrc5id
— Marinescu Edward (@MarinescuEdwar1) August 7, 2023
But it gives a distorted picture of the overall situation in Ukraine. There are certain facts that cannot be overlooked:
Geographical realities
Kiev, the capital of Ukraine and where the video was filmed, is more than 300 miles (480 km) from the active front line . Here, far from the center of the war, daily life continues - but with the constant awareness that the country is at war.
Reactions and backlash on social media
The video sparked a flood of comments and opinions. Some sarcastically claimed: “ The war in Ukraine is FAKE ”. Others mocked U.S. support for Ukraine, suggesting that this aid comes in the form of beach towels and sunscreen.
Life in Kyiv: Between normality and war awareness
Despite the distance from the front line, the war is omnipresent in Kiev. During the war, the city tried to maintain some sense of normality. There were curfews in place, which were later relaxed, and nightlife remained active, albeit limited. The Fifty Beach Club, for example, conveyed a summer holiday feeling in the middle of the city.
Conclusion
A single video can and should never summarize the complexity and complexity of a conflict like the one in Ukraine. You need to stay informed and not jump to conclusions based on bits and pieces circulating on social media.
Also read:
- “Fake news” in action: Propaganda video claims that German citizens are being expropriated for Ukraine
- Zelensky's “nuclear preemptive strike”: a suggestion to NATO or a translation error?
- Fact check: The fake front page of the Handelsblatt with a caricature of Volodymyr Zelenskyj
Sources:
- “Fifty Beach Club · Brovarskyi Ave, 5-м, Kyiv, Ukraine, 02089.” Fifty Beach Club · Brovarskyi Ave, 5-м, Kyiv, Ukraine, 02089 , Fifty Beach Club . Accessed Aug 7, 2023.
- FIFTY BEACH CLUB – #FIFTYBEACH . https://fiftybeach.com/ . Accessed Aug 7, 2023.
- Gettleman, Jeffrey, and Laura Boushnak. “Kyiv Nightlife Comes Back Amid Urge for Contact. 'This Is the Cure.'” The New York Times , July 26, 2022. http://NYTimes.com ,
- Kyiv Nightlife Comes Back Amid Urge for Contact. 'This Is the Cure.' (Published 2022) .
- Ibrahim, Nur. “Are These Real Videos of People Partying in Kyiv, Ukraine, During Wartime?” Snopes , 8 May 2023, Are These Real Videos of People Partying in Kyiv, Ukraine, During Wartime? .
- Koshiw, Isobel. “Kyiv's Clubs and Bars to Stay Open Later as Curfew Relaxed to Midnight.” The Guardian , 17 Mar. 2023. The Guardian , Kyiv's clubs and bars to stay open later as curfew relaxed to midnight .
- Russian War Didn't Touch Kyiv Beach Clubs! | Al Bawaba . Russian war didn't touch Kyiv beach clubs! | Al Bawaba . Accessed Aug 7, 2023.
- “Ukrainians Have Grown Used to Living with Curfews.” The Economist . The Economist , Ukrainians have grown used to living with curfews . Accessed Aug 7, 2023.
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

