Summary of "ПСИОП. Дезинформация ради лулзов"
Overview
The video explains how psyops — psychological operations originally used by militaries — have migrated from state propaganda to large-scale internet trolling and disinformation run by ordinary users on forums, social networks, and messaging apps. With broad internet access, anyone (4chan/Dvach users, Redditors, Twitter/X and Telegram users, VKontakte communities, etc.) can manufacture believable but false stories that spread rapidly and sometimes force mainstream media and analysts to amplify or react to them.
Definition and history
- Psyops date back centuries and were formalized in 20th‑century warfare.
- The internet era democratized the creation and distribution of these techniques: cheap, fast, and wide-reaching.
Mechanism
A successful psyop typically:
- Creates a fabricated story presented plausibly.
- Encourages sharing so the story appears widely accepted.
- Exploits credibility gaps, viral dynamics, and audience gullibility.
- Forces mainstream attention and reaction, which further amplifies the hoax.
Key examples
Personal anecdote
The narrator admits being fooled by a popular fake VKontakte page for a Tyumen car wash that never existed. Local and then federal media attempted to find it, revealing the hoax.
Nikita Kologrivy (major example)
An actor recently popular for a TV role was targeted with widespread fake reports claiming he:
- Called people to gather at polling stations.
- Staged autograph sessions near polling places.
- Was detained and beaten by security services.
- Confessed to supporting the government under duress.
The trolling began as a joke in chats, escalated as fans and wider audiences believed it, and caused personal and reputational consequences for the actor.
Donbass / militia hoaxes
- Meme faces and internet celebrities (e.g., Billy Herrington, Ricardo Milos) were repeatedly posted as supposedly fallen militiamen.
- A fabricated martyr story was amplified by both Ukrainian and Russian channels, prompting mainstream outlets (e.g., Rossiya 24) to denounce “Bandera propaganda,” demonstrating how psyops can infiltrate and confuse different audiences.
Western parallels
- Sam Hyde was repeatedly and falsely identified by trolls as the perpetrator of various mass shootings; mainstream outlets (once including CNN) were fooled.
- The “Ghost of Kyiv” myth was buoyed by misattributed images and meme culture.
Other notable incidents
- Dvach users falsely claimed blogger Nariman Namazov (Abu) died heroically rescuing children in the Kemerovo “Winter Cherry” fire.
- Novaya Gazeta reportedly published an erroneous account linking a Tajik man to the Magnitogorsk building explosion after local claims.
- Researchers at the Institute for the Study of War picked up a forged Telegram appeal (supposedly signed by Russian military bloggers), giving trolls further exposure and links to their channels.
Why psyops succeed
- Low information literacy, especially among older or less meme-aware audiences.
- Difficulty of rapid verification during chaotic news cycles.
- Entertainment value: spreading hoaxes “for lulz” motivates participants.
Outlook
The growth of AI tools and deepfakes will make creating convincing psyops easier. The presenter closes ironically, suggesting people might as well embrace making psyops themselves — underscoring how normalized and accessible these tactics have become.
Named people, contributors, and organizations mentioned
- Nikita Kologrivy — actor (central example)
- Viktor Pogorelov — fabricated/meme “militiaman”
- Alexandra Sirova — mentioned among fictional names
- Roman Gusle — mentioned among fictional names
- Alex Valis — mentioned among fictional names
- Alexei Navalny — mentioned in political context
- Dima Bilan — named as added to fake campaign
- Philipp Kirkorov — named as added to fake campaign
- Billy Herrington — meme figure used in hoaxes
- Ricardo Milos — meme figure referenced
- Sam Hyde — Western meme falsely blamed for shootings
- Adam Kinzersky — name transcribed in subtitles; used in Ghost of Kyiv context
- Nariman Namazov / Abu — Dvach admin targeted by hoaxes
- Ilya Varlamov — mentioned re: classmate hoax
- Alexander Stefana — Telegram blogger
- Alexei Polorotova — journalist
- Milana Vasilyeva — major of the Center for E (as transcribed)
- Ilya Shepelin — presenter of popular politics (as transcribed)
Media and platforms cited:
- 4chan, Dvach, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Telegram, Twitter/X, Reddit
- CNN, Rossiya 24 (VGTRK), Novaya Gazeta, Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
Category
News and Commentary
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