Daryna Antoniuk
South African influencers have reportedly been involved in an online influence campaign targeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, researchers have found.
The campaign, which criticized Zelensky’s rejection of a proposed ceasefire by Russia, appears to be part of a larger, coordinated effort linked to an African influence-for-hire network.
A new analysis from the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) identified over 40 accounts involved in the traffic manipulation campaign, which garnered 290,000 views. Among these accounts, 29 identified as influencers in their bios on X (formerly Twitter), with four directly linked to Lit, a South African influencer marketplace known for facilitating paid promotions.
The influencers targeted Zelensky over his refusal to accept a three-day ceasefire proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin late last month. The ceasefire was set to coincide with Russia's Victory Day celebrations but was ultimately dismissed by Zelensky, who called for a longer, 30-day ceasefire format in line with U.S. suggestions.
Following Zelensky’s rejection, pro-Russia voices, including bloggers on Telegram and X, launched a wave of criticism. This online attack was amplified by South African influencers who promoted anti-Zelensky hashtags on X.
According to DFRLab, this campaign was not the first of its kind. The influencers had previously engaged in similar efforts, including a March 2025 campaign aimed at disrupting Zelensky’s planned meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Hashtags such as #ZelenScam and #StopZelenScammingUS trended in South Africa during this period, portraying Zelensky as corrupt.
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