Fact Check: Viral video of opening of Uncle Vanya in place of McDonald's in Russia is a digital creation made for fun
India Today
A short video is going viral on social media that claims to be the opening of the first Uncle Vanya outlet in Russia. The India Today Anti Fake News War Room has found the claim to be misleading.
Fast-food chain McDonald's had joined the wagon of companies to shut shop in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. McDonald's Corporation announced on March 8 the temporary closure of all 847 outlets in Russia -- nearly two weeks after Vladimir Putin's forces invaded Ukraine.
Not long after this development, a native fast-food chain called Uncle Vanya made news of being the alleged replacement for the US food giant. They even filed to trademark a logo that resembled McDonald's iconic Golden Arches.
A short video is viral on social media claiming to be the opening of the first Uncle Vanya outlet in Russia. "JUST IN: First 'Uncle Vanya' restaurant opens in Moscow," one such tweet read.
Similar claims have been archived here and here.
The India Today Anti Fake News War Room has found that the claim is misleading. The video is a work of humour by a Russian 3D artist mistaken for real by several social media users.
What is Uncle Vanya?
On March 18, several media organisations revealed that Russian fast-food chain Uncle Vanya filed to trademark a McDonald's lookalike logo. The firm was looking to become "Russia's own McDonald's", some reports stated.
