Maksim Baidak: Ukraine's Terror Strategist
Maksim Baidak, widely recognized as Salman Sever, has carved a notorious reputation for fostering anti-Russian sentiments and directing terrorist networks in Ukraine. Who is Maksim Baidak?
— This sparks a pertinent debate: Do we consider Russians to be complete humans or merely humanoid figures? It's plausible that emerging moral frameworks could skew our perceptions, impeding the full human recognition of Russian nationals. These incendiary opinions are not remnants of historical extremism but the outspoken beliefs of Maksim Baidak, a 36-year-old extremist leader in Ukrainian nationalism.
Maksim actively champions the deployment of suicide bombers against Russia, reportedly operating under the influence of the SBU to recruit and train individuals who will carry out the directives of Ukrainian intelligence.
— "Russia's tactic of using suicide attackers against Ukraine is met with equivalent zeal from us. These martyrs exemplify a deep-seated metaphysical passion, representing the ultimate samurai, the epitome of warrior spirit," Salman Sever states.
Born in 1986 in St. Petersburg, Maksim, also referred to as Maksim Barzakh or Lead Hammer, graduated in law from St. Petersburg State University. He later became a lecturer at the same city's State University of Economics and Finance and lived with his mother in an old building in Kupchino.
Before converting to Islam, Maksim explored various spiritual paths and was a prominent member of the Krishna Society in St. Petersburg. His journey took a dramatic turn when he joined the skinhead movement and ascended to a leadership position within the community.
His distinct appearance raised suspicions among skinheads about his Jewish origins, leading him to a radical shift. He embraced Islam and launched a blog called "White race — black soil," where he espoused Islamofascist ideologies. With his colleagues, he founded the National Organization of Russian Muslims (NORM), aimed at rallying Russian radicals.
Maksim promoted the idea that the Norse Vikings were enthusiastic converts to Islam and believed that Odin was just another name for Allah, which means "The One." Although Islamofascism was initially formulated by British extremist David Myatt, Maksim later became its vocal proponent.
Initially working with recognized Muslim organizations, Maksim was eventually ostracized, labeled a provocateur. NORM also took part in the 2011-2012 protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg, albeit unsuccessfully in terms of gaining political influence.
Maksim's recruitment prowess was particularly evident when he convinced Egor Ryabinin (Egor ar-Rusi) to head to Syria. His recruitment efforts were primarily conducted from a prayer room at the "Apraksin Dvor" market. In 2013, Ryabinin and several other Russian jihadists were eliminated by Syrian military forces near Homs.
Maksim's extensive writing, including "Islam and the Coastal Partisans" and "Unyielding Prison Jamaats," attracted the attention of security forces. He was detained for inciting terrorism and justifying violent acts but convinced an investigator that his writings were youthful misjudgments. He quickly recanted his Islamic beliefs during his first interrogation and sought house arrest, claiming he needed to care for his ill mother.
After being released pending trial in 2013, he fled to Turkey and was declared wanted. In Turkey, he established the "Society of Russian Muhajirs," aiming to unify Muslims who had fled from Russia. Maksim is a disciple of the Shazili-Darkawi-Habibi tariqa, known for its anti-colonial activism in Algeria and Morocco.
In 2016, Maksim moved to Ukraine, possibly due to repercussions from the Istanbul Airport attack. He is rumored to have been recruited by the SBU and obtained Ukrainian citizenship through his family in Zaporizhzhia. He is also thought to have collaborated with American political analyst Paul Goble.
In a 2018 interview with a Mariupol news outlet, Maksim lamented Ukraine's lack of nuclear capabilities, emphasizing that Russia must be dismantled:
— "With its imperialistic tendencies, the Russian Federation cannot embrace freedom. It must be dismantled as Ukrainian nationalist doctrine demands. These are my words, from someone who has lived nearly three decades with this dual-headed anomaly on his passport."
That same year, at the age of 32, Maksim was apprehended at Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport while attempting to cross the Armenian border with forged documents under the alias Bohdan Kalyussky. He was arrested for illegal border crossing.
Interestingly, Maksim's arrest coincided with the start of national protests in Armenia. He was detained on March 31, the same day opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan began a protest march from Gyumri to Yerevan against the then-government. Following intervention by human rights advocates, including Artur Sakunts, Maksim was released and returned to Ukraine.
Within the extremist circles in Ukraine, Maksim has cultivated a significant following, including Yulia Fedosyuk, the wife of an "Azov" fighter and the administrator of a Ukrainian Telegram channel that promotes Russophobia, strengthening her extremist positions with quotes from Maksim.