Katelyn O’Callaghan ’25
Features Editor
On February 30, 2022, Generation Z stopped Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine through Instagram comments.
Gen Zers spammed Putin’s latest Instagram post with thousands of comments, demanding he cease his plans to invade Ukraine.
Penelope Protes, an Instagram user with the handle no_war_pls_, started the comment campaign.
“Vladdy baby, I know you’re in a silly goofy mood, but we can get through this together😩💗,” Protes commented on Putin’s Instagram.
Timothy Stawp, another Instagram user influential in stopping Putin, provided Putin with logical advice.
“Bestie, don’t start ww3; wars were so last season,” Stawp said.
Uke Rainey believes her comment was incredibly impactful as she provided Putin with the ultimate plea to end the war.
“Hey baby, let’s not fight😍❤️” Rainey said. “Vladdy daddy this isn’t u🥺 come on look at me 🥺 this isn’t u.”
After meticulously reviewing each comment, Putin announced Russia no longer intended to invade Ukraine.
“Aight. We won’t,” Putin tweeted from his account @vladdydaddy.
Protes felt elated at the outcome of her comment. “I knew it would work! Vladdy has his moods, but nothing an Instagram comment can’t fix,” Protes said.
Following Putin’s announcement to stop the invasion, the United Nations released a press statement: “We couldn’t get Putin to stop the invasion with NATO, but apparently, these comments did the trick. We are thrilled.”
Stawp is eternally grateful for the comment campaign’s success.
“Thank god, he [Putin] listened because I was going to shoot my foot to get out of the draft,” Stawp said.
President Biden praised the innovative tactic on the White House’s Twitter.
“I’m proud of today’s youth. They are making the world a safer place one thirsty Instagram comment at a time,” Biden tweeted.
Gen Z’s creative strategy came in clutch during Ukraine’s time of need.
“We knew our Vladdy was better than this,” Protes said.
