As soon as the visit to Kiev by the President of the United States was revealed on Monday, the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea by Russia (February 20, 2014), a group of pro-Ukrainian digital activists released an image replacing the head of Joe Biden by that of a shiba inu dog. It was a tribute.
The virtual canine mascot proudly wears the prestigious visitor’s aviator sunglasses and a model truck recalling America’s military aid to the invaded country. “Is that what you need, man?” says the avatar.
The poster was broadcast on the social networks of NAFO, the Organization of “fellas” (“people”) of the North Atlantic, which is obviously a nod to NATO (NATO in English ), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization which Ukraine could join, much to Russia’s chagrin. There are thousands of other committed creations of the same genre and from the same source, all made to support the Ukrainian population and make fun of Russian propaganda publications.
“It is a movement that started with the aim of raising funds for the defenders of Ukraine,” writes the Duty a spokesperson for the organization who wishes to remain anonymous. “We are doing this to raise awareness about the war in Ukraine and raise funds for those in need. »
The site accepts donations and sells merchandise, t-shirts, mugs, hats and even some Christmas decorations. In less than a year, more than a million dollars (of which a large quarter was transferred to the organization United24 of the Ukrainian president, Vladimir Zelensky) would have been raised for humanitarian interventions and to support the war effort. The first funds were used to equip volunteers of the Georgian Legion. An ongoing collection linked to Renegade Relief Foundation will support the Children’s Center in the city of Rivne.
Die of laughing so as not to die
Humor, this politeness of despair, thus becomes a very serious weapon of war. The models come from afar. The comic diaries of the front of 1914-1918 allowed recruits to escape a little while killing boredom. Some World War II propaganda posters still amaze with their audacity.
The phoney war continues by other means and on a multitude of fronts, some started by ordinary citizens armed with a mobile phone. most famous and celebrated portion.
The very first meme linked to this funny digital war effort appeared on May 19, 2022. It took over and already weaponized the canine icon of the shiba inu, itself popularized online since 2010.
Russia is reacting badly. Ambassadors from Russia argued with our cartoons on Twitter. That Russians quarrel with dogs online proves that they are wasting their time and are incapable of spreading effective propaganda.
The sarcastic and patriotic front was opened by the Pole Kamil Dysewski, who explained his approach in a rare interview with the Ukrainian media Kyiv Post last November. “NAFO means different things to different people,” he said. Some use it to help others; some use it to fight misinformation; others find there a place to console themselves for all that is happening. To me, that means whatever it means to others. It is not necessary to focus on one goal and only one goal. By limiting what NAFO means or is, we would be limiting what this organization can achieve. »
The person interviewed by The duty refuses to speak of propaganda by emphasizing that this notion applies to a State practice, such as that precisely produced by Moscow and its propagandist media which NAFO is attacking. “What we are doing is disrupting Russian propaganda,” writes this fella. While this type of defense is incomparable to what a soldier does on the battlefield, we’re happy to support the fights our way by providing resources, information, and fun memes. »
Pack attacks
The source speaks of tens of thousands of images, memes, videos created in less than a year. Digital fighters make the shiba inu dance on TikTok, insert the dog on the battlefields, disguise him as an infantryman, a pilot, a commander of troops. Hurry up !
President Putin overstimulates numeric-comic attacks. A famous hijacked image shows an army of soldier doggies marching through Moscow’s Red Square to ridicule military parades continuing the Soviet tradition. Another sits the Russian leaders in the defendant’s box at the Nuremberg tribunal, again surrounded by guard dogs.
“Russia reacts badly, comments NAFO. Ambassadors from Russia argued with our cartoons on Twitter. That Russians quarrel with dogs online proves that they are wasting their time and are incapable of spreading effective propaganda. »
The effort gives the shitposting airs of nobility. This assumed provocation makes it possible to intentionally derail an opponent’s online discourse. The pack rages with fierce passion against official Russian sites. It is unleashed as soon as a Russian reference appears online to Article 5 of the NATO treaty stipulating that an attack on one member is tantamount to an attack on all.
Pick up his shitposting
The Ukrainian authorities support this strange front. Ukrainian embassies transplant the best images. The Ministry of Defense officially thanked NAFO for its “fierce fight” in a tweet on August 28 by reproducing an avatar of the shiba inu.
This international brigade would now mobilize a good hundred digital creators (qualified as “forgers” in the interview) spread around the world, also used to produce original images distributed to donors. Some ” fellas are known, such as US Congressman Adam Kinzinger, former Estonian President Toomas Hendrick Ilves.
The troop receives the support of thousands of other faithful to circulate the images. The first, at the beginning of the summer, attracted a few hundred views. Before the fall, the 5000 mark was crossed. The @Official_NAFO now has almost 90,000 subscribers.
“Some of us are based in the United States, others in Europe and the United Kingdom,” explains the group’s spokesperson. […] We try to keep individual names out of the spotlight to focus primarily on NAFO and its members. We will be there as long as the defenders need supplies, and we hope to continue to contribute to the rebuilding effort after Ukraine’s victory. »