INSIDE WAR BLOGGING ⟩ The Highs and Lows of Artur Rehi's Digital Crusade

Interviewer: How come you attract such interest from older men?

Artur Rehi: I speak slowly, clearly, and understandably. I try to explain things simply. My videos don't have many flashing images like modern news; I prefer longer textual analyses, with occasional but not too frequent image changes. This suits an older audience. There's also something in my character and mannerisms that appeals to them.

Interviewer: You've been active on Twitter (now X) for about two years, roughly the same time Elon Musk has owned the platform. Have you noticed any suppression of pro-Ukraine tweets?

Artur Rehi: I haven't seen Elon Musk blocking anything. He has given more freedom to pro-Russian bloggers than other platforms.

Interviewer: As a content creator, how do you feel about Musk's more liberal editorial policy?

Artur Rehi: I most certainly wouldn't call Musk a "vatnik" [vatnik is a nickname for Russia symphatisers]. He provided Ukraine with Starlink, a weapon Russia doesn't have. Almost all Ukrainian drone and missile capabilities, including drone explosions on Russian territory, have been made possible by Starlink. His contributions on the battlefield speak for themselves. Musk's actions on X are not that significant in this context.

Interviewer: How has YouTube changed during the war?

Artur Rehi: YouTube altered its algorithm after the full-scale war in Ukraine began. Initially, my video titles like "Five Best Drone Kills" got millions of views. YouTube wasn't ready for such massive coverage of death, so they changed the algorithm, and my channel lost ad revenue. I contacted YouTube, and they restored my funding. Now, all my videos are family-friendly. YouTube's algorithm no longer automatically demonetizes war content.

Interviewer: Do you become desensitized to the graphic content you review for your videos?

Artur Rehi: Watching death videos daily requires self-monitoring. Most of the time, I'm fine. But seeing death still affects me. As long as I can feel sadness and joy, I consider myself healthy.

Interviewer: Have you experienced burnout?

Artur Rehi: I love my job, which can lead to 12-hour workdays. For a year after February 2022, I was on the verge of burnout, working from nine in the morning until nine at night. Now, I have a team of five employees and a manager. I strictly work from nine to five and keep weekends free.

Interviewer: How do you avoid spreading Russian disinformation?

Artur Rehi: I have occasionally spread Russian disinformation. Russian info operations often originate from Ukrainian or Western sources. For example, the story that US analysts advised Ukraine not to attack Russian oil refineries because it would raise global oil prices was actually Russian disinformation. Russian info operations amplify ambiguous messages accidentally broadcast in the West.

Interviewer: What are your observations about mainstream media during wartime?

The media business needs to be profitable, which encourages fear-mongering. Fear generates clicks in the short term but exhausts readers in the long term. I approach my videos with humor and try to avoid emotional extremes. It's important that my viewers feel light and fresh after watching, even if the topic is war and death. People need war information but want to stay sane while consuming it.

Interviewer: How do you deal with Russian trolls?

Artur Rehi: I've been targeted by trolls since I started on YouTube in 2011. The best response is silence. They need a reaction, which I don't give them.

Interviewer: Have there been specific information attacks against you?

Artur Rehi: Many Telegram users impersonate me to scam money from elderly viewers. I have about 1,500 fake Telegram accounts. I educate my viewers about these scams and scrutinize advertising inquiries to identify potential data phishing attempts.

Interviewer: Have you noticed Ukrainian disinformation operations?

Artur Rehi: Yes, Ukraine conducts successful disinformation operations. For example, mentioning the attack on the Kerch Bridge is an info war tactic to force Russia to keep reserves in Crimea.

Interviewer: How do your American viewers, especially Trump supporters, feel about his potential return to power?

Artur Rehi: Many of my viewers are Trump supporters, about 30% based on comments. I recently toured the US and Canada and met many Trump-supporting fans. While I wouldn't vote for Trump, I respect my viewers' choices and am not worried about his return. He lacks the power to decisively change the course of the Ukraine war. Europe is strong enough to support Ukraine.

Interviewer: How do you describe the current trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine war to your viewers?

Artur Rehi: Ukraine currently lacks the capability to advance on the front lines but can effectively destroy Russian logistics. This strategy, "death by a thousand cuts," will eventually impact the front lines, allowing Ukraine to advance.

Interviewer: Do your Estonian friends ask if war will come to Estonia?

Artur Rehi: Yes, but I monitor daily for any signs. There are no significant movements near our border. My prediction is no war in Estonia for a couple of years. After that, it's possible, but NATO's recent changes to Baltic defense plans offer strong protection.

Interviewer: If Estonia goes to war, will you continue as a YouTuber or serve in the military?

Artur Rehi: I trained as a company signalman in the Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion and now work as a senior reporter in the Strategic Communications Center. I would likely continue similar work, closer to the front lines.

Interviewer: How was your YouTube activity received during your military service?

Artur Rehi: Initially, filming was banned, and I wasn't popular among officers. However, after one of my videos received 1.5 million views, the Estonian Defense Forces saw my value and asked me to create content for them.

Interviewer: General Martin Herem suggests increasing Estonia's defense budget to buy more ammo. Do you agree?

Artur Rehi: Yes, Estonia's defense spending should be raised to 4% of GDP, and we must buy additional ammunition immediately, even at the expense of other sectors. Security is paramount.

Interviewer: What can Estonia learn from Ukraine's strategic communications?

Artur Rehi: Our capability is already quite good. If we were to go to war, we have creative solutions and tactics ready. For now, maintaining our current efforts is crucial.

Interviewer: Where will the Russia-Ukraine war be by mid-2025?

Artur Rehi: It's hard to predict, but I believe Ukraine will launch a counteroffensive in summer 2025 without prior media coverage, catching everyone by surprise.