Meta removed a deepfake video from its platforms Wednesday that depicted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordering his country’s troops to surrender to Russia. Head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher explained in a tweet, “Earlier today, our teams identified and removed a deepfake video claiming to show President Zelensky issuing a statement he never did. It…
Following the displacement of millions from Ukraine after Russia’s violent invasion in recent weeks, sites such as Hire for Ukraine have launched to connect Ukrainian professionals with paying projects and sources of employment. Over the coming days, Adweek will profile some of the creative talents featured on Hire for Ukraine. We encourage you to connect…
Omnicom, the owner of agencies such as BBDO and TBWA, is the latest agency network to pull out of Russia–having disposed of its investments in the country after its invasion of Ukraine. Following WPP, Accenture, IPG, Dentsu and Publicis, Omnicom announced in a statement that it was “working with local partners to dispose of all…
As the situation in Ukraine worsens by the day following the unprovoked invasion by Russia, pressure on remaining western brands and advertising companies continues to grow. Major companies, including oil and gas brands such as Shell and BP, have divested operations in Russia alongside the world’s largest brands, including Amazon. Even Philip Morris, Imperial Brands…
Following the displacement of millions from Ukraine after Russia’s violent invasion in recent weeks, sites such as Hire for Ukraine have launched to connect Ukrainian professionals with paying projects and sources of employment. Over the coming days, Adweek will profile some of the creative talents featured on Hire for Ukraine. We encourage you to connect…
Denstu International, part of the Japanese advertising agency group Dentsu, has revealed that it is in the process of transferring the ownership of its joint venture in Russia in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Following the response of rival agency networks WPP, IPG and Publicis Groupe, the company has released a statement to…
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has displaced millions, not only leaving them without shelter but also without a consistent source of income. It’s estimated that within just over two weeks, 2.5 million escaped Ukraine to surrounding countries such as Poland, which, according to UNHCR data, has received 1.6 million refugees. The same data shows 245,000 Ukrainians…
We’ve all felt utterly helpless staring at our TV screens over the last few weeks at what is happening in Ukraine. But there are things Adland can be doing to help. As the war and humanitarian crisis continue to unfold there, it’s become apparent this war is not only being fought on the ground but…
Publicis Groupe is to stop all operations, engagement and investment in Russia with immediate effect, with CEO Arthur Sadoun saying it “strongly condemns” the country’s “unilateral aggression against Ukraine.” The French-owned ad network has ceded the ownership of its agencies in Russia, which include Starcom, Zenith and Leo Burnett, to the founding chairman of Publicis…
Interpublic Group is suspending operations in Russia following the continued invasion of Ukraine. Following in the footsteps of Accenture and WPP earlier this month, IPG chief executive Philippe Krakowsky wrote to staff and posted on LinkedIn a note outlining the reason for taking the step. He initially highlighted the company’s decision to support its staff…
Concerns over press censorship are in the spotlight again since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the Russian government cracking down on media outlets and restricting citizens’ access to social platforms. Reporters Without Borders (RWB), an organization that advocates for press freedom, has come up with another clever way to combat online censorship by oppressive regimes,…
Right up to the moment their country was invaded, the team at Ukrainian production company Limelite was still preparing for a shoot, with a group ready to head to the airport to fly out. Those plans were disrupted, however, when Russian troops began crossing the border. They never got to their flight. Taxi drivers refused…
Editor’s note: As part of our coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Adweek has been reaching out to creative professionals who remain in the country. Oksana Gonchar, creative group head of [isdgroup] agency based in Kyiv, shared the following dispatch. This piece has been edited for formatting and clarity. The first thought that popped into…
The Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention appeared to crumble two weeks ago. But then, just like that, the idea sprang back to life, potentially with new meaning about brands’ power in a time of crisis. On March 8, McDonald’s temporarily shuttered its more than 800 Russian franchises. The fast food chain’s decision came amid…
As pressure mounted, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Starbucks all announced today that they are pausing their business in Russia, joining a sprawling list of brands that are suspending any presence in the country during its invasion of Ukraine. The announcements from the three companies came within two hours of each other and followed closely behind that…
McDonald’s is temporarily closing all of its restaurants in Russia amid calls for brands to cease operations and business with the country over its invasion of Ukraine. McDonald’s had 847 locations in Russia at the close of last year, according to an investor document. 84% of the restaurants are company-operated with the rest operated independently….
Everyone has a blind spot while they’re driving, when vehicles are in between your field of vision and what the mirrors show. These Hyundai ads from Ukrainian agency Tabasco cleverly address this by demonstrating a different kind of blind spot—the one on your retina.
For this year’s Cannes Film Festival, BBDO created four limited-edition beer-can designs for Stella Artois. But instead of promoting the brand’s values in a traditional way—flashier takes on the logo and the like—the series of cans tell a comic book-style story that takes place on the legendary Croisette.
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