Main image: The Night Wolves — a Russian motorcycle club that is on friendly terms with President Vladimir V. Putin — run a combat training center just a few hours away.CreditCredit...Pool photo by Alexei Druzhinin
Despite sanctions imposed by the European Union and Switzerland, the Russian motorcycle club Night Wolves, which has long been associated with Putin, continues to operate actively across Europe. Moreover, the club’s network has expanded since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since 2022, the organization has established new chapters in France, Slovakia, China, and the Philippines. As of today, at least 13 branches remain active, openly supporting Russian aggression and promoting Kremlin narratives.
In May 2026, club representatives organized a series of events across Europe as part of the “Roads of Victory” motorcycle rally, displaying Soviet symbols, St. George 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.
Club members publicly claim that they are engaged solely in “preserving historical memory,” but their activities suggest otherwise. Foreign chapters of the Night Wolves have openly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since 2014, distributed propaganda materials, and organized fundraising campaigns for Russian military units fighting on Ukrainian territory.
The Swiss chapter has been particularly active. Its leader, Rolf Scheffler, has repeatedly expressed public support for Putin and the so-called “special military operation.” For his loyalty, he was granted Russian citizenship by a personal decree of the Russian president and received several awards from Russian state institutions.
On social media, club members congratulate fighters from pro-Russian armed groups, commemorate anniversaries of Crimea’s occupation, and describe Russian troops fighting in Ukraine as “defenders of peace.”
The Night Wolves have long ceased to be an ordinary motorcycle club. Their leader, Aleksandr Zaldastanov, better known by the nickname “The Surgeon,” refers to Putin as his friend and regularly participates in state-sponsored propaganda events.
Following the occupation of Crimea in 2014, both the United States and Canada concluded that the club had been involved in supporting Russian operations on Ukrainian territory. According to U.S. authorities, members of the organization participated in the seizure of Crimea and helped recruit militants for the war in Donbas.
In 2022, representatives of the Night Wolves also formed their own volunteer unit within the Pyatnashka Brigade, which has taken part in combat operations against Ukraine.
The activities of the motorcycle club demonstrate that Russian influence in Europe extends beyond diplomacy and online information campaigns. Through a network of clubs, civic organizations, and cultural events, the Kremlin continues to cultivate support for its policies even in countries that officially condemn Russian aggression.
Under the guise of memorial events, motorcycle festivals, and so-called people-to-people diplomacy, narratives are being spread that justify the war against Ukraine, discredit the West, and advance the interests of the Russian state.
