South African Influencers Implicated in Anti-Zelensky Disinformation Campaign
A recent investigation by the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) has uncovered a sophisticated online influence operation targeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with South African influencers playing a key role. This campaign, which criticized Zelensky’s rejection of a Russian ceasefire proposal, appears to be part of a broader, coordinated effort leveraging an African influence-for-hire network. The operation involved over 40 accounts on X (formerly Twitter), generating over 290,000 views, with 29 of these accounts openly identifying as influencers and four directly linked to Lit, a South African influencer marketplace known for facilitating paid promotions. These influencers targeted Zelensky for his refusal to accept a three-day ceasefire proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations. Zelensky, advocating for a more substantial 30-day ceasefire aligned with U.S. recommendations, dismissed the Russian proposal. This rejection triggered a wave of online criticism from pro-Russia voices, including bloggers on Telegram and X, amplified strategically by the South African influencers through the promotion of anti-Zelensky hashtags.
This recent incident is not an isolated occurrence. The DFRLab’s findings indicate that these influencers were previously involved in a similar operation in March 2025, aimed at disrupting Zelensky’s planned meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. During this period, hashtags like #ZelenScam and #StopZelenScammingUS trended in South Africa, portraying Zelensky as corrupt and untrustworthy. The repeated involvement of these influencers in targeted disinformation campaigns raises serious concerns about the growing influence of coordinated online manipulation efforts. Their connection to Lit, a platform designed for paid promotions, suggests a financial incentive driving their participation, further highlighting the commercialization of disinformation and its potential to undermine democratic discourse. The targeting of high-profile political figures like Zelensky underscores the potential impact of these operations on international relations and public perception.
The DFRLab’s analysis reveals a disturbing trend: the increasing use of African influencers, particularly those in South Africa, in orchestrated disinformation campaigns. This development aligns with a broader surge in Russian influence across Africa, accompanied by a significant increase in disinformation operations. The Africa Center for Strategic Studies reports a nearly fourfold increase in disinformation campaigns on the continent since 2022, with Russia identified as the primary sponsor behind almost 40% of these initiatives. South Africa, in particular, has emerged as a focal point for Russian disinformation efforts, with the country facing a barrage of narratives designed to polarize communities, sow distrust, and bolster the African National Congress. The use of South African influencers allows for the dissemination of pro-Russian narratives both within South Africa and internationally, further amplifying the reach and impact of these campaigns.
The exploitation of influencer marketing for political manipulation represents a new frontier in disinformation tactics. Traditionally associated with product endorsements and brand promotion, influencer marketing is now being leveraged to spread political propaganda and shape public opinion. This tactic exploits the trust and parasocial relationships that influencers cultivate with their followers, making them effective vectors for disinformation. The use of seemingly authentic voices, often operating within established online communities, adds a layer of credibility to the disseminated narratives, making them more persuasive and difficult to counter. The case of the South African influencers demonstrates how this tactic can be deployed to target specific political figures and undermine international diplomatic efforts.
The incident involving the South African influencers also highlights the global nature of disinformation operations. While the influencers themselves are based in South Africa, their activities are part of a broader, interconnected network of actors likely operating across multiple countries. This transnational nature of disinformation campaigns poses significant challenges for detection and mitigation, requiring international cooperation and information sharing to effectively combat these threats. The use of social media platforms like X further amplifies the reach of these operations, allowing disinformation to spread rapidly across borders and reach vast audiences. This underscores the urgent need for social media companies to strengthen their content moderation policies and invest in resources to identify and remove malicious content, including coordinated disinformation campaigns.
The rise of Russia-linked disinformation campaigns, like the one targeting Zelensky, underscores the growing sophistication and reach of these operations. The DFRLab’s discovery of the Doppelgänger network last year, targeting American users on X to discredit protests in Georgia, further exemplifies the global reach and diverse tactics employed by these networks. These campaigns often leverage a combination of fabricated narratives, manipulated media, and coordinated online activity to spread disinformation and manipulate public perception. The use of influencer networks adds a new dimension to these operations, further blurring the lines between authentic online engagement and coordinated manipulation. As disinformation tactics evolve, ongoing research and analysis, coupled with international collaboration, are crucial to understanding and countering these threats to democratic discourse and global stability. The potential for these operations to undermine trust in institutions, fuel social division, and interfere with political processes necessitates a robust and coordinated response from governments, civil society organizations, and social media platforms.
