Page 16 - IAV Digital Magazine #549

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VIRAL In Russia! Amid Raging War, ‘Zelensky’s Tears’, A Limited Edition Vodka, Sells Like ‘Hot Cakes’ In Moscow
By Tanmay Kadam
The seven-second clip shows a man picking up a bottle of vodka with a black- and-white image of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wiping a tear from his right eye and “Zelensky’s Tears” written below in Russian, followed by “limited edition” below in English.
“What a joke! Look at what they’re selling at Moscow supermar- kets: ‘Zelensky’s Tears’ vodka. It’s unbelievable,” the man filming the clip says while holding the bottle in his right hand.
As per Russian-lan- guage media sources, since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, several products with labels supporting
Russian President Putin and his “special military operation” in Ukraine have come up on the shelves of the stores.
A photo of another vodka bottle with a prominent “Z” symbol and the slogan “We Don’t Abandon Ours” has
been reportedly doing the rounds on social media. According to New York Post, the alcohol retails for 345 rubles, a little over $6.
As reported by Eurasian Times earli- er, the letter “Z” has become a
fiercely pro-war
sign in Russia, sym- bolizing President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Three days after the invasion, Russia Today (RT), the TV network of the state- owned Ria
Novosti, announced o n its social media channels that it was selling Z merchan- dise, including T-shirts and hoodies, support- ing Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.
Apart from that, there have also been socks packaged in cans with names like “Za Pobedu,” meaning “For Victory,” and “Zadacha Budet Vipolnena,” translat- ing to “The Mission Will Be Fulfilled.”
It is not just the Russian entrepre- neurs who have been trying to benefit from the Ukraine war.
A Swiss social impact company, ‘VODKA 4 PEACE’, which aims to “promote peace and spread freedom around the world” by selling vodka,
has unveiled a limited edition, premium- quality vodka named ‘Vodka Zelensky.’
According to the com- pany, 100% of the profits from vodka sales through 2026 will benefit Ukraine charities.
Likewise, in February, ‘Alexandre’s, a bar in Texas, took off the Russian spirits from its shelves protesting Russia
and served “F— Putin” shots in soli- darity with Ukraine as the country began resisting the Russian invasion.
“During war or global events, we often feel helpless as tragedy unfolds,” Alexandre’s shared on Facebook on February 25. “While we understand pulling a bottle off the wall or serving shots won’t end this war, using our skill-sets and committing small acts of solidarity can create a more unified community response to such actions.”
“So, in solidarity with Ukrainians and the anti-war protestors of Russia, we wanted to do what Alexandre’s does best: create a cocktail and raise a glass in hopes of a quick and peaceful end to this conflict and to build a world where war is never an option.”
The shots had bright blue and yellow stripes representing the Ukraine flag.
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