Russian extremist group Male State linked to flight bomb threats

The Russian extremist movement known as Male State, or Muzhskoye gosudarstvo, has been linked to bomb threats sent via email targeting three flights bound for Italy. The group, which includes the Male State Fighters, reportedly claimed that explosions would occur, targeting what they described as a feminist regime.

Founded in 2016 by Vladislav Pozdnyakov, the organization promotes a white supremacist and anti-feminist ideology. According to reports, the group advocates for a rigid social structure where women are subordinate to men and views LGBTQ+ communities as a threat to society. While the group was formally outlawed by a court in Nizhny Novgorod in 2021, its activity has reportedly increased.

Analysts suggest the group operates as a form of informal digital police, often engaging in information warfare that aligns with Kremlin interests, such as targeting dissidents or those critical of the war in Ukraine. Some observers note that the ability of a Russian group to cause panic regarding European aviation security raises questions about potential state complicity or lack of intervention.