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.
This also illustrates the Russian campaign that brought Calin Georgescu to popularity in Romania.
Probably such paid campaigns are in action across other countries, such as the USA and Germany too.