The Russian government has been investing in a powerful propaganda tool in Ukraine’s occupied territories: video bloggers. These pro-Russian influencers film upbeat reviews of cafes in the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic,” praise “Uncle Vova” (Vladimir Putin) for “saving the locals,” and produce travel TV shows in war-torn Mariupol. They portray life under Russian rule as steadily improving — and they’re training young content creators to spread the message even further. The independent outlet DOXA recently explored what these vloggers are producing and which Russia-backed organizations are helping them grow. Meduza shares an abridged translation of the report.