Swedish man convicted for ties to extremist group linked to Russian intelligence

A Swedish court has convicted a 20-year-old man for participating in the neo-Nazi terrorist group Maniac Murder Cult (MKY), Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports.

The man was recruited in late 2025 by an international leader of MKY, whom Ukrainian security services allege has ties to Russian intelligence. According to SVT’s investigation, the leader has been active in extremist circles on Telegram since at least 2022.

In December 2025, the same leader founded a new extremist group with a broader misanthropic ideology, describing humanity as an “infection” to be eradicated. This group has claimed responsibility for arson attacks and false bomb threats, including “swattings,” against US schools.

Ukraine’s SBU security service states that Russia has systematically used the group’s Telegram channel to recruit minors, including two Ukrainian boys allegedly planned for school attacks to destabilize society. Western intelligence agencies, including Germany’s BfV, are monitoring the group for potential Russian hybrid operations.

MKY is part of the so-called Com network, a collection of violent extremist groups. Swedish authorities classify the phenomenon as violence-affirming misanthropy.