2023-09-07 12:38:39
War in Ukraine: The pro-Putin influencers profiting from the conflict
9 hours ago
Russian social media influencers are earning huge advertising revenue from their pro-Putin government and pro-war posts in Ukraine.
Alongside violent and graphic videos of drone strikes and false claims about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, they share advertisements for everything from cryptocurrencies to fashion.
Known in Russia as “Z-bloggers” due to their support for a war often symbolized by the letter Z, they are often allowed to accompany the Russian army and publish images from the front line, encouraging young Russians to enlist.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, pro-war Russian influencers have gained millions of followers on Telegram, the communications platform many Russians turned to after President Vladimir Putin banned Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
In this video, the BBC’s Global Disinformation Team reveals how they operate and make money by supporting Putin in war.
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