15 Memes That Trolled Russia Too Hard

The intelligence from the warfare in Ukraine incline to focus on physical fight , but there ’s another front in the engagement that get less care : the electron tube of the internet . Russia ’s overall scheme involves a huge disinformation safari , but over the last yr , an army of shitposters has started fighting back . It ’s a loosely organized but exceedingly online concretion that calls itself NAFO — short for the North America Fellas Organization — and it ’s fighting a meme warfare against the Russian encroachment .

NAFO is less of a grouping than a movement , united by a distaste for Russian propaganda and a love of “ blighter , ” which are inexpertly photoshopped Shiba Inus ( aka doge ) dressed as Ukrainian soldiers . Like most things on the internet , NAFO go as a joke when an creative person call Kama started giving out fellas as a reward for charitable donations . But it apace blossomed into something much openhanded , and somehow more serious .

Major government figures have taken notice . Ukraine ’s Defense Ministry has reposted NAFO meme and thanked the group for their service . The legion of self - identify fellas includes US Rep. Adam Kinzinger , Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas , and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis . US Army Major General Patrick J. Donahoe even used a fella as his Twitter embodiment for a while .

Image: Ukrainian Ministry of Defense

We commonly utter gratitude to our external mate for the security assistance . But today we want to give a shout - out to a unique entity – North Atlantic Fellas Organization#NAFO.Thanks for your fierce fight against kremlin ’s propaganda & trolls . We present you , fellas!pic.twitter.com / AfDnXf7pfc

— Defense of Ukraine ( @DefenceU)August 28 , 2022

NAFO is a bit hard to define . It has awebsite(andmerch ) , but there ’s no organized leadership . Instead , its extremely online adherents flow out on Discord , Reddit , Twitter , and other channels , landing on their scheme , if you may call it that , through corporate activeness . But remainder guarantee , wherever there ’s Russian propaganda , NAFO is learn , and if you call the bloke with the # NAFO hashtag , you could expect them to fall knocking on your station .

Screenshot: Gizmodo

Screenshot: Gizmodo

There ’s some speculation ( advance by Russian trolls and propaganda electrical outlet ) that NAFO is a CIA fund psy - op , but most believable observers recognize it as a grassroots movement . disregardless , the fellasdon’t seem to mind . On an net that often feels bleak , NAFO is trial impression that placard can still hail together to make something dandy , or at least something comic and quasi - purposeful .

A year into NAFO ’s meme - ing , there are innumerable example of fellas fighting on the front lines , standing proud next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky , and shed bust of joy at the plenty of projectile launching . NAFO even levy money and paid the Ukrainian armed services topaint their memes on a tank , now dear known as the Superbonker 9000 .

If you require to become a fella , there ’s a simple initiation ritual . Donate to Ukraine and commit proof toNAFO ’s hotline , and they ’ll make you a tradition lad of your very own .

The NAFO insignia.