A young soldier in the Ukrainian Army, calls his grandfather, a veteran who fought during WWII in the Soviet Army in WWII. The young soldier speaks in Russian, congratulating his grandfather on Victory Day—a national holiday commemorating the end of WWII. The young soldier says the Soviet slogan “Happy Victory Day” and his grandfather replies “Glory to Ukraine." The coupling of these two emotionally and politically charged phrases create a powerful effect on audiences, crushing hollow political clichés, and shattering the illusion of a divided Ukraine. Afterwards, the young soldier goes into battle.

Today, Russia and Ukraine are at war. Propaganda from both sides of the war between Ukraine and Russia is fueling violence and hatred between Ukraine’s ethnic groups.

Together with "Informational Resistance group", a Ukrainian non-governmental organization, we decided to disarm the propaganda war with a clear message of peace, rooted in the days when Ukrainians and Russians were brothers: the second World War, when Ukrainians and Russians fought and died together to defeat Nazi Germany.

The short film is produced in Russian with Ukrainian subtitles. It was especially important to have the Ukrainian characters speak in Russian in order to reach audiences of Russian-speaking Ukrainians and Russia with this call for peace.

Grandson: Hello, grandpa! I want to congratulate you!

How are you there, getting ready?

Grandfather: Thank you, grandson. Good you remember that. My jacket is ironed, my orders are on me.

Grandson: Grandpa... I want to tell you one thing...

Grandfather: I know! Where do you keep it?

Grandson: In the left one... under my heart.

Grandfather: Did you... put on your hat?

Grandson: I did! Happy Victory Day!

Grandfather: Glory to Ukraine!