-Reported on Radio Free Europe-
Several flights in Europe were hit by bomb threats on November 6, following a series of false alarms that had caused air traffic disruptions across the continent on November 3 and 5.
So far, the cause of this ongoing chaos remains unknown. The only lead is an email, through which responsibility for the threats is claimed. The email is signed “The Warriors of Male State.” This name apparently links to a mysterious Russian group known as “Male State” or “Male Legion.”
The group does not appear to have been very active in recent years. Radio Free Europe has widely reported on its activities in the past, most recently in 2022, when it targeted a bar in Tbilisi frequented by Russians opposed to the Kremlin.
The group was founded in 2016 by Vladislav Pozdnyakov, a fitness trainer, who left Russia two years later after being given a suspended sentence for “incitement of hatred against women.”
Brussels Airport, after bomb threats forced planes to make unscheduled landings across Europe, November 5, 2026.
The alleged link between the group and the threats against flights has not yet been confirmed, and there have also been denials. BBC referred to a Telegram channel linked to the group, while Reuters quoted Pozdnyakov himself. Both sources reported that the group no longer exists and that it has no involvement in these threats.
“Male State,” which was declared an extremist organization in Russia in 2021, was known for its far-right views, racism, misogyny and statements against the LGBT community. Its members even celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday.
The group first came to attention when it launched a campaign against the adoption in Russia of a law on domestic violence.
At the time, a feminist activist told Radio Free Europe that she had been insulted and threatened with death, while other people had their home addresses published online.
“Male State” also became known for attacks on women who were in relationships with Black men. According to reports, the group was also involved in a campaign against a chain of sushi restaurants after the chain used a Black man in an advertisement.
Staged death in Indonesia
Pozdnyakov’s whereabouts are unknown. His Telegram channel, which has about 5,400 subscribers, remains active and serves as a platform for promoting Russia’s war against Ukraine.
So far, no reaction to the email linked to the flight threats has been published on this channel. On November 6, posts were published on various topics, including a decision by a Russian regional court to ban a pornographic video featuring Muslim women, the US midterm elections, and an increase in pay for Russian soldiers.
He made the news again last October, after faking his death in Indonesia. A low-quality photograph was even published showing a man with a similar physique, lying on the ground with his shirt covered in blood. Two days later, Pozdnyakov reappeared and admitted that everything had been a staged scene meant to attract public attention.
Russian authorities have often pursued political opponents who have left the country, but they do not appear to have taken any action against Pozdnyakov. This has fueled speculation that he may have ties to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). These suspicions have also been fueled by Pozdnyakov himself.
Some Russian human rights activists have also suggested that Pozdnyakov may have begun cooperating with the FSB after his arrest.
“Hybrid aggression”
Officials in European countries affected by bomb threats have not directly expressed suspicions about who is behind them, but they have suggested that these incidents appear to be coordinated.
“The most reasonable assumption is that we are facing an attempt at hybrid aggression and a form of psychological warfare,” said Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.
The threats come at a time when Western officials are increasingly warning of a covert Russian campaign that includes drone incursions, acts of sabotage and attempted assassinations in European NATO member states.
This week, a series of cyberattacks on refrigeration systems in large supermarkets was also recorded in several European countries.
“Attacks on refrigeration systems and bomb threats against flights may not be linked to Russia, or to each other. However, both show how relatively limited actions can disrupt everyday life, cause economic costs and test public trust in essential services,” wrote David Cattler, former NATO assistant secretary general for Intelligence and Security, on November 5.
“Europe cannot wait until traces of Russian involvement are found to protect the systems on which its citizens depend,” he added.
The Kremlin has rejected any claims of Russian involvement in the attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems.
“These claims are absurd. As always, they are not based on any reasoning or any evidence. And yet, once again we are dealing with baseless accusations against our country, involving it in everything,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on November 5.
So far, the Kremlin has not commented on the threats against flights.
Prepared by: Ekrem Idrizi