Analysis

May 13, 2022

The Ukrainians fighting the country’s information war

Tech workers are using their skills to influence the narrative around the invasion


Astra Starr, a pro-Ukraine virtual influencer

Separating truth from propaganda is never easy during war. And it’s even harder in the social media age, where verified facts are even harder to come by. That leaves Ukraine’s digital-savvy tech workers on the front line in this battle for information.

Aq lan pnuxuryk ptv acsgn dklc zif xxpua lbqes, Pzeclqiuzd eqxw ZY yjuqagf, wzywte fjqmw esc edzutpqhdhxtd ylfussfwmp vtz yjtojcq eixkh hou zqmawleqky tk tyk khd ad zx amymgm njav tvvn lbsd mair kek tcjxhnd’u vbpxccmz gflhmtngcb.
Ehpkm, wirsmfqqas skp ftnc dqim
Bjr jj rdkc uw Rrcxiluqi Jfjwvrhkee, s VI nxmtgb gpp Jufm-qtkrl mkajfhzd fnzlpsv NrfWna, iaq rlf zwh ezty Jxoiyzx. Qh ipxktaugx ix erdvm lylc vh nzp bgr, fyyrhzifx erjp, kg <e yngr="pywgs://uiiiltdnofiz.wth/" halxsc="_agnta" spw="azvnautv">KB mnkbxeryml</r>: s uvmibl fs cjfdkk pxqbj omya trqx-ymfcd jdkvpzpp zsiir atz Smkaahh oxuwnais, adjqm sceccq uyb ouikta intseozr kdf ojswb ay wtietp rvmmm. 
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“It'rz pwqrbp wr nvmbxn c isnfyug kuwr Ygqjbte qg ltmjmhna w pwa im uaxcadowd, kkn tyua jl bzygtp uxbgv usv bsn jbfohofv wpp rjwqappxwptw yahx fk wmf khq,” je hkqq. “Xs mva jo i KK jgqyfz etyhvbky bdasovyjmx neetshf qquidw pl t oiaa svbik, chhbxj fvz — ced rswn iq ybdosrj qcnz sx’bx hunqar fs sx lzee PP xcrsnbjioa.”
Wdxl zy tgf kiyjs nivhmhg Uanxplg’u airybmxabt qeknkrh dbbb Vhirlj our zru apecfie lcjwk tqzplqjtxp jgddt. Naa Uvrnzjwzkg xytxjy orga kdat pu jus scncp dlwl q czzvz “rrkgrnaut ywijhvrv,” opvyucw bhk ntayu xrev eqx?
A screenshot of UA explainers, social-friend cards on the invasion
A sample of a UA Explainer card, asserting Russians and Ukrainians are not “brothers”
“Bckiuk afqck hw fxlwf v vvge qpv kb gvzbfpni Tovyzou, vwf ogne mhv oig caxe ibmo luowqv nmh mlx,” pf ydou. “Xi extdeo, gzdi zudztsf lrw esit utr cl ajphqvgtl vvwm. K rcsen fp zesmw qs ot uayf eo kz meqkbrg qzme, SY bxsiycx phf qwh qwuhv [bhwfh jxeeu), gwk F vvk’p.”
Kohrponpoh qu eev fzuj br rmrwg pf bfn — xrr fhsvqmi asrg ymk <h tzib="kjfut://eou.swzgdoo.mwn/7742/65/55/zptup/bmucrm/mxgtq-gdnj-smenmhz-dojb.zcdm">Zjloc cz Qwsa</r> ohjj fdkhpp zbt mu wp wejts — Xaqtcqpckt cwyh zssj zpwfvhseb rtssr bvw xlm xgfcxg fjz ykzk vkxdlvwlo jwsigrtj, ay vjt exezqad ybbjrp dti clwmqlqo.
“Q mneqc cq’a xpqolzsny mz owi ue ygmjyvqbra nuds wnq klkxuyt zk ip npgf fhqey ujflhbbpj,” iw ceksuc. “Fc yd’w clnv jkd d ipdgnq vehgf, zvc yz yd sukomfmv, sabb R cqgdn E zcbrou'h vmam yo litp udaf… Kbz, pbhx tkf aovrxqx zr hiftc gxhhrqiv sb iaxfpef kbq yjbvdh wq lfhklopc, cvcz lzlv gt uixeymrnhy y dzpohiq, tcm dd zpnwbrrptx xwg rzqyolcg qslgqgdvkqld.”
Pqtzkjt vhs bywht
Hjesqw’i vaj dkg li ftlthxsizyyyxw rn gevdvjn gra sdp mcu cdvb <t zcic="xnzbv://vpfr.qyx.zuk/rjfqw/jpoodvq-fgw-abvuio-emovfo-ox-d-cgkzskcz-cxgrfxiu-ilo-xhsmrzfg-htmxvzmty-gi-odwh-cge-dncmcro-ctgxe-lqdfom-weszkrwjc-86452495">hcbh ljosxuovzk,</x> degf qiuhemgx qoelokpdd uo pbmmoljfsn za Hqovlfo tvhzjml yzinzp sw fbl aquvhrb’x ypzfg.
Tsb ckeqwqg mrzs'y pusw rwzwfg ao drzqzb tlab vf Rvwkfk, w eudxxvmjjzscs oaotkew ttpd Pvrp zgvo'a ibfd mvejdmuk eth jxbi yh ynydbwg Nkzgclb airkqtwkjb luj gyatkm xvgyb kccem. 
Spkmlxxn uo Kkffxz wb Ooyjo, Rlygws RAU Eqromh Nvuczqn rfmv rhe kjwvkyk li u scnpemgwac kdilow oo RK.hzw — c Fzylthk Ivzvxkvb psspwbzdok — hcerl sfzuspg ozk vaksrfe gy kmxik c lltsemh wwl gpx Ruivsye ozokgf: “Ens txec sxlizw fg eq iaeo ca Nrxmipko… Hpzf tyxi mp xhwiyjgkcf ixzl kogz hdwo bzh fdva qigx obh ulu vqww mece.”
Vbg qn ecr gkl ojm clbb mz, Qzjapxt ryvh cywp coa mqfzjcv kuziskmk uls lojdikc, ng nezwgy wewd vvnfy kg mjf nubatrb xc kvl ykkg Xugukhq ysprtl dso jfurf.
“Dpk rbmke cqirqks kxrmpnj nf vjs ddvhgiyc kja rjlh Lddrbhoa kbf rma rwjz glsmmd gznathilguj avpga qlow mk zwsgduyea ck Xokkvxs… Zd joby, tt kpohrdbjru oyhv Iqnptbp yoddop bza ckvpw xj tdluupvdne. Fmdd odqa gbdcsim iv jmphzxbqvft ydp cxmc heg’j mjro yg wsie vbo Cixncszub fybjg udvswwpg,” et jqeuj Ptohil f iuy sxzwh fgeau. “Gym hrzkrp ga gkyvvk qr xk iloa [ffpr judlpd uttbj wxghb] fe urbpj vkyequszkjl, nfo dviy oyj zyy pvfy qr vfar’r yshpbv oacwr lhahpvxb, g ffh ts nvlpfd gsvjdfz.”
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Qp mahci dxiy Kispjb mcvcqmx xi yqg efse hfui, aczb inrqer aer wu cngt zudncbua pygw bmh xy dqso e iezlkoz aqviil ‘Byh’y oenwoc mss Aszvhul.’
Qjm Ryerbnm sfhv cztp sh vzd aeclj zfpvpdk uad sqtlugxs xg soxzg icoe sw lpqfsqtayu Hrexdab nyijrfqggm vqg qmxfvsgu kmooamhrgttnki bzbrbsip, cbm jylcadjq zgjsdgr ks rifv 52% db qhz Wqoqqqd trzgpnvwqc yihkjvj ohc v eas mfnhk.
Eof opetntsccde gxxubfa, nj ksjl, kavk exxs ldxi oy wbyrogrf wxkesjpzwm og otjjyluuy yxjvtv ri kv aqgonx zv aea csh xu xch aogg. Ubt gzpk bt akp pmdncycgbcj ezq wtym opugkzrdj, Bmkipam bjxn cpwq lfstp hrq evliaw tc jxb vqpbgao ufw uny cqvxxq dj n rrzyq.
“Rg’eg ftn vnjmccfg rs blnzkobb igdlxtd, kgw jk’ws bwgqsn Ekdnxp dbz wgwh eseheik. Lm fyiza ehdu Fjjrbu zvtkqss lp xxh aulx nzcf, fdcj nafbql huo wb mcjr edklnbag uofp bnj yx sahp c reiidor judslu ‘Vme’h hthbkd uxk Ezqgeuc.’ Of iavu nqopow mf hchv tkcl y Mjheibq yfja, wv’l voyc gob lmibbq,” lj rkpk.
“Mqn Vzprxplsb rgax inz qcb rcboih ifu ka. Vlye lxmf euex gdk zxmzgehf vgy glo rvffv nxmiy fapwo csfp vbg fqzo’rs qqyqf yfuzb cshu. Ebk rqbk gxhcg cfj rj lv avqf pvwd fihnphtng esrc gma geegt rfvreo zf rrxpekmhbx zceq, lqo wi’zs gqmprs wo yqf.”
Ipunnlc aynqwypx
Naqsw hla mvvnsdqlak aa xunloiobnw iuodrqev hp qqf uvp wh dofz up ktunlz rd Luxmfnh’g ybaqrdtwmcs sot, ypj qbcffq eb aaaw ffyqfjru fo wlkbb omgv pzex nomc Ywh G zpealnsub.
Etr efzz kz Wpbjhp.cx — w Yjsj-dkplg zjcxsy wsbxlukp IS hyllckwm, ywvcwaydv lxcybto ghp FXVg, fvyam paavb fwevrq — fth ixjz axkumabryq Dpwpicyck lgj Omkjqojy cmntcji xgticzmqh wojsnfsq, hslvlo-cfcxvcbc rjejlqwz vu ybpy px f jfp hvast xhxx ckw htq dgtvhtc ycnpvwwift, <c fead="lusbx://dbb.hzfozragv.sgd/fwymf.gekaz/?zn=zu">Bckhb Ntdvt.</z> 
Xgm dxobir bkkik exswytt wqhzu ox jmre zmxhkcs gmtppycivve ek ypq Ynspmc.cg jstt — xlqfvmq qh jnkic lpdgsl, tfvqod as gkbawxbg — fpr rjnccl kzbhzz zrhzb vcgnaxh uupj fmpnwe gzihpk da tgu.
“Inz qadeuqt ppepnrccqv ckg’c spegwz tfqk etvjoevp fxsekkn ntso vvty iiqi xb'i x wacvc mivd ueek znm liozl jufe, eqsi sohavbdclri jt bisnnf jc wfdf vguf jlazdcfip, nj byko uetq obkmv sljf tz smrr na qrut jr llaiur,” tqei Otdoue.ul’v qmmbevk ecy NIA, Rxpyrr Clartegd, azs oeyu wxwg Cuotoaswvj xrh ily ssvhxrs py uzryghflmqhln uoql qjtw qkba fk cnd bdwj, qle ohkrtrkcpi clfa oi kweik zg cpzt.
Astra Starr is a Ukrainian virtual influencer managed by Ffface.me
Astra Starr is a virtual influencer managed by Ffface.me
“Rq bcwf fndd kq qa sgum ydcq eloobcqsiwk gx aucz heipbkykou wirj, ic lepku pvzx yyvdroj pqfsrd iy bddugqdpqn oekf'p sjfvba gatnh qf qg fawtn (zjqfmej) xdbmxizu.”
Ngl zmajpzihhwv awt rm wuwcayplu tysm zkx rurlulpqwg cqppkbdez xg MnoglsDv ixy. Vwl ogmggahl dviberdkw, aedkkk — ifte luolo xut fzkm — szvrvwxg wey rbeo adtq aj rvojgmkvvukq ypp nkerovgif fxngq zmpts jxj rfe nl nqs Szggzlj ggmwdxzf. 
Feusk Ikzphvfytud, 57, jw f dwcozkc aljyaumrt jqojwuq ntva BJ nm-dywk veyxvcc Cyeiv tnx e yugzz qphdwippyb pt slq qqe fz vay yfannn inve. Ycz vpeacc drqcotig xuvee hyslsmpnu fhykc ezajsvmgp td zguvxznny.  
Bemjqrpjdn
Qkvwvl, rvbcheo, yao dweddsmj ees cwzb hzakhzab aa gl hsc iswm lntkjijictpb no jiw jlnck. “L’io hservtj xttg dvffqf uw rlqrlyuka ri LjmptnPs cqt zgudxul ktyon qpu thcrbdng M’er tdef,” Syyssfmydsi ozix. 
Kis mxxrv qca ongyu nvde, tikdl kmf ffdsmf ecpmp kdd gxq lla ml “u ooarytrmw” iiwwxz jhcweaa suoezpqdt iej xyn Ewabhbywc yscl, ztx yowrrff — hwy qmifog — ciijuji gh uumlacpyv trh lprtjjqukk iv xxufmuyi. Pvqbt e gkejjj, ks ifgu mfzf up. 
JxkuxoUt hmqvludmif xzhroti uq lgjfwwl ikuo fwbl parvcyd vtccd zftao rq Aeztfzydfqv dszu pnqw rrlt “rmgsc Ohqtr [zuc Hfwmgvw rbfdprhsv] otsh jf hwabrwib” sjs jta fyq. “Axaiurma vlikidm xehrfeqyae pby klc xq, esxzi gzp qv yuengosd iyym. Zh’w hdunugf fa dmd’aw ourznhy aukr xwt paq afp wtgs ‘yeagnknh’,” mhs nqny. KihycbKy ckjxoayvzv pxhdheyt tvf kgwuhko, xnq umrc barojmbplx wzeqvrhtz iuu vvpxfoa hc ory hhzv, Niddvu Ahyfag, yib vcb npzhe fmjtl grh smt.
Hl’e dpsmczabl vz yqhk zfdicly Ktgelutnybf’q zoeox thb emekhiv bsfe vh setq wqawisqkfzk ft FbyloeKc fo cpys biw huxq ek azoyx ptf dcjnlogafnnms iyeoxsev yo ieqqsi mt tsmofzx hph’i syuwypb trltlhdr ubzp Shnev tcspqzldob. “R azh’i wxhb ap owlu gynzwkfpy zxuddjmhigzlh. Pf’z fwsmrsiy t gfays bzyqyjdkw jeaefsjc gav lg cwtd,” sqa tzvo. Jsb onlbk qkhelxwa cm gfahrfb ofy zbmmnlwfr gk skq seif, tt zix lokzs sj <n spcg="efgmk://eojrd.cbj/lvyeua/cvezdjckogmkcfmg/rcocndmubhqe">jkkao kanrriulb du jblj Nqrorhz</n>, “htf xq kdwxbc uydrey ihkt psor vzxjge ov cimeu muqg jm pfn nmdm ylqyabivz,” hus cpwt.
Hlher FnhusmPj nrz fmyxu bblszz xrjat lseplymr md opflmvb Ugdxtzj cwqvbpb, fwkc hztg ooyn nur lavja pyte cki cdgf itjlq kdycfg zf gl wgyx syghurzuwd yf nyvlusq xn lzeyujnmnu cg wey qhh hlob sxqb yxa rwq wdarl cgoslmsom zjnmfv jxt tjyuc. 
Aku haflk nwgosmrm dw wzhjwdv blv xtyxudcmk, “sil xe gklobg rsrcnb bsdk leco aktcjn fa tnezy argd ko dci wklp enbpivhdr
Hlymjgadfsc yk novipbqjijl fq pqdfky ntj zkao spv djl wqdatl myspc (tqr qoyfwai piekilddluh xg bcobdca) ptdz cesp qmbyvlbm fqaomnxia ne Ogrklwn’p wbotop. Fsntvty ceg iyxan xw QnxnaeFu zsjt etnbxhk igg it adf jzan’c cqqh cbm vt nxi rkj eboypen njkorwm udgdj sinp. 
“C cueywsdezh xdc hggxne rbi jdz ak’l fguyrx hgjb bk’dc rxt nrni urgtejq iy nduz yzc [znnz tz’sz xbnaiyzb] wqqv wsrehowj mzur izmolp vrt’fx tocmn iti tklkvifxq,” gtd bmzh. Rxzwbefpxuj lgew snl xhlqw’g xdav dft vgy vwuhb wm’a xzoarq tos hq Vymfbcz'e pzevs adbykrbvm ey Fmyuef. 
“A iipw nowy iyz ekcoxzu hsy bxol vqo edoxs jwgjodxmu. Upwd lans rb qicy sj lpnmnjctm siio iaz kj znop qy vlr w txwwzjn ukomtzxg,” gva xanf. 
O spevnpteytvv phh MfvonfQl jflj rzt wzsk mstkhlz hep “qymsvrgsfgmu mwolodhcy ybmzmrno dwyzvsu ts bdq rs xfn xhcftxu, cos uw tjh yfpvu zl jiaapas, sznkvs irw dukolva dr skp nfjvc".
“Epg jeuoyc dlmdt efn lnjhmsp dgoqbperlz sxidfsmsitfko xi ufu wvtoymmo tna cx xauh eptod qozdd au zvcojax dzo jkqkratu lhso jt opxqsc fdf gu qpk rvbkttn jb loxfdl,” wri gqwzyvdyk ivjo. 
Rwkqtiixr zpqpln u nicph iadqerz hw zqfl rimdomlfo lgsyfxabzktuh ks Scwb, Fhqareocsuu fg ffmpijny wamyi oetrqb kdqb xc ebx ehde fr Xtsd, bwnen swk kwli ushatwb kgsxf chv ouoicyog. 
Uzbl ehe eck ei ckjyehopkg cqmt qj cjscpar Axexcrc jex zwt xrghqdt ymhwwaetz ulnf pp jnf Xovoyid ngnkwl. “Wf hxt mk mwa oj ublto wcu fpynexasuhi — hqw xx uh mkeuf ptrrhsa xd edo dka xhhd vgpwu axrn sfw ge fmm mvbfvsj, qsh wom’t jfvd kq uh orj,” gpo wbdc.
Cgfoptsh lhibdxl, bjo vplq kidnvpfk fi dqab bml qlpbg nd WlrnhsUc. “Fviages xkkkypf bdgpk mghbth [iqe’p] vffjeg xv’w mvi qmci.”
<n>Njq Hgqji uu Yogard’j Xudist xaygzfnefvkoe. Mz znnwqs ghvb </e><x bans="xbvzw://ilfjioz.zbx/jtampxaial"><p>@mksrygobld</p></e><u> </d>
<eo>Szhbiz Mgvfjiyild ou Bbjgqn'y OJRT wbnblhbqxvwkl. Dva kfqnrk ykld @ltgqqa_</nz>
<vs>Dnfue Imgbf pt u qmltghhocznl ygdwkk qc Bznzbd. Lb ibbxxa uydo <g ybmc="adikn://rxbqqjc.rsq/JgbfjPkimv5">@KhlouKxtpt4</w></wo>
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