WATCH: Mock-up Ukrainian video tries to bring the horror of war closer to home

A mock-up video shared by Ukraine’s oldest English-language newspaper has sparked thousands of reactions after showing Paris under attack to bring the terror of the Russia-Ukraine war closer to home for westerners.

The video, shared by the Kyiv Post, shows the Eiffel Tower coming under fire as people can be heard screaming.

A woman posing with the Eiffel Tower between her hands puts into context what would happen if France’ capital was bombed, as shelling starts whilst she is having a photograph taken.

The woman subsequently runs as a huge explosion takes place, with the clip being followed by fake scenes of aircrafts flying over Paris and air sirens supposedly sounding across the city.

The video, which has gathered more than two million views, is captioned: “Just think if this were to happen in another European capital.”

Quotes from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy were also added to the video: “We will fight till the end. Giving us a chance to live. If we fall, you fall.”

Reactions

Reactions to the video poured in, with one Twitter user saying: “Thanks. Now I’m suspicious about any footage I see from the war lol.”

Another user pointed out war has already been happening for decades in the Middle East. “Imagine European/western countries attacked non-European countries daily the same way putin is doing to Ukraine…” the user said, adding: “OH WAIT that’s already happening in the Middle East. The West LOVES to bomb/kill others and play the ‘hero’.”

Weapons

It comes as Donald Trump has warned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could lead to a third world war and said Vladimir Putin is showing a “lack of respect”, before adding the Russian president is “driven”.

The former US president also boasted about having sent weapons to Ukraine to help them fight Russia.

“Remember Obama-Biden? They sent blankets. I sent Javelins,” he said.

He added: “You know what the Javelins are? The anti-tank weapons. They knock the hell out of those tanks. And Ukraine wouldn’t be having a chance without them. That was all sent by me. All of it.”

Last week, Russia’s foreign ministry called European Union and NATO countries to “stop pumping weapons” into Ukraine, according to the Russian RIA news agency.

Last month, prime minister Boris Johnson said the UK would send more lethal British weapons to Ukraine.

“In light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia, and in line with our previous support, the UK will shortly be providing a further package of military support to Ukraine. This will include lethal aid in the form of defensive weapons and non-lethal aid,” Johnson said at the time.

In January, the UK had already sent short-range anti-tank missiles, saying they are for “defence”, according to UK Defence Journal.

Andra Maciuca

Andra is a multilingual, award-winning NQJ senior journalist and the UK’s first Romanian representing co-nationals in Britain and reporting on EU citizens for national news. She is interested in UK, EU and Eastern European affairs, EU citizens in the UK, British citizens in the EU, environmental reporting, ethical consumerism and corporate social responsibility. She has contributed articles to VICE, Ethical Consumer and The New European and likes writing poetry, singing, songwriting and playing instruments. She studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield and has a Masters in International Business and Management from the University of Manchester. Follow her on: