putin’s Bikers Have Set Up a Propaganda Network Across Europe

Despite sanctions from the European Union and Switzerland, the russian motorcycle club “night wolves”, which has long been linked to putin, continues to operate actively across Europe. Moreover, the club’s network has even expanded since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Specifically, since 2022, the motorcycle club has opened new chapters in France, Slovakia, China, and the Philippines. As of today, there are at least 13 active chapters of the organization that openly support russia’s aggression and spread kremlin narratives.

In May 2026, representatives of the motorcycle club held a series of events in European countries during the “roads of victory” motorcycle rally, using soviet symbols, st. george’s ribbons, and russian flags. Similar events took place in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Switzerland with the participation of representatives from russian diplomatic missions.

Of course, club members publicly claim that they are only engaged in “preserving historical memory”, but their activities tell a different story. Overseas chapters of the “Night Wolves” have openly supported russia’s invasion of Ukraine since 2014, distributing propaganda materials and organizing fundraisers for russian military units fighting on Ukrainian territory.

The club’s Swiss chapter is particularly active. Its leader, Rolf Scheffler, has repeatedly and publicly expressed support for putin and the “special military operation”. For such ardent support, he was even granted russian citizenship by a personal decree of the russian president and received several awards from russian government agencies.

On social media, club members salute fighters from pro-russian groups, mark the anniversaries of the occupation of Crimea, and refer to russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine as “peacekeepers”.

The “night wolves” have long ceased to be an ordinary biker club. Their leader, aleksandr zaldastanov, known by the nickname “khirurg”(“surgeon” – Transl.) calls putin his friend and regularly participates in state propaganda events.

Furthermore, following the occupation of Crimea in 2014, the USA and Canada concluded that the motorcycle club was involved in supporting russian operations on Ukrainian territory. According to US authorities, members of the organization participated in the seizure of Crimea and helped recruit militants for the war in the Donbas.

In 2022, representatives of the “night wolves” created their own volunteer unit within the “15th brigade”, which is participating in combat operations against Ukraine.

The activities of the motorcycle club demonstrate that russian influence in Europe is not limited to diplomacy or online information campaigns. Through a network of clubs, civil society organizations, and cultural events, the kremlin continues to build support bases for its policies even in countries which officially condemn russia’s aggression.

Under the guise of memorial events, biker festivals, and so-called people-to-people diplomacy, narratives are being spread that justify the war against Ukraine, discredit the West, and promote the interests of the russian state.