The Russian-linked organization “Male State” may be behind the bomb threats targeting European flights. Messages sent to several airports were signed in the name of this misogynistic, ultranationalist group from Russia.
Although the group’s signature is present, investigators have not ruled out the possibility that others used its identity to conceal their own involvement.
According to AFP, the threats sent to airports in Rome and Sofia contained misogynistic messages and explicitly referred to a supposed “feminist regime.” Investigators have not, however, established a direct link between the Russian group and those behind the messages.
Vladislav Pozdnyakov, founder of the “Male State” movement, has denied any involvement in sending bomb threats. According to Meduza, he claims he has not been part of the movement since 2019.
An investigation published by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera suggests that one of the messages examined may have been sent from an email address linked to a woman in Bogotá, Colombia, tvr.info reports.
There are suspicions that the address may have been compromised or used without the person’s knowledge. Therefore, the fact that an account is linked to a particular woman does not automatically mean that she sent the threats.
Investigators are trying to trace the emails, identify the servers used, and track the associated IP addresses. Some of the emails are believed to have been sent through compromised accounts or services that conceal the sender’s identity.
Reuters notes that the scale and timing of the threats raise suspicions of a possible coordinated operation bearing the hallmarks of a hybrid attack.
Russia has repeatedly been accused by European countries of orchestrating or supporting acts of sabotage and destabilization. The Kremlin vehemently denies any involvement in such activities.