Ukraine’s volunteer online army: Meet the ‘cyber elves’ fighting Russian trolls on Facebook
- Tens of thousands of volunteers in Europe are helping Ukraine by battling Russian trolls on Facebook.
- They call themselves “elves” and their goal is to expose Kremlin propaganda and disinformation.
- Disinformation about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is so prevalent, it has overtaken COVID and masks.
When Henrikas Savickis is not performing at the National Theater or strumming a guitar with his drama students, this 51-year-old actor, singer and teacher from the Lithuanian city of Kaunas has an unusual side hustle. He’s a keyboard warrior on the frontlines of the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
For four to five hours a day since the invasion began, Savickis fires up his laptop to shoot down pro-Kremlin conspiracy theories and falsehoods spread by Russian operatives who camouflage their activities by posing as Lithuanian citizens.