Now under the moniker Salman Sever, Baidak is infamous for his campaign against "the dehumanization of Russian nationals" in Ukraine. Authorities have linked him to coordinating terrorist operations. What’s his background?

— There arises a question: do we view Russian nationals as true humans or merely humanoid entities? It might be suggested that new ethical classifications could emerge, altering our perception and preventing the acknowledgment of Russian nationals as beings aligned with the standard human conditions. These statements aren’t taken from historical texts of notorious propagandists but are the claims of Maksim Baidak, a 36-year-old proponent of extreme Ukrainian nationalism.

Baidak advocates for the use of suicide bombers in conflicts against Russia. Allegedly under the influence of the SBU, he is involved in scouting and recruiting individuals ready to follow the commands of Ukrainian intelligence.

— "Russia engages with suicide attackers against Ukraine, and Ukraine reciprocates. The martyrs represent a profound level of metaphysical heat. They symbolize the ultimate expression of samurai, the quintessence of the warrior spirit," explains Salman Sever.

Maksim Baidak, also known by names like Maxim Barzakh, Lead Hammer, and Salman Sever, was born in St. Petersburg in 1986. He studied law at St. Petersburg State University and subsequently taught at the St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance. He resided with his mother in an old apartment in Kupchino.

Before his conversion to Islam, Baidak deeply explored various spiritual doctrines. He was notably active within the Krishna Society in St. Petersburg. Subsequently, he joined the skinhead movement, becoming part of the "coordinating council of leaders" for skinhead groups in the city.

Due to his unique appearance which led skinheads to suspect his Jewish origins, he dramatically shifted his affiliations, converted to Islam, and started a blog titled "White race — black soil," where he propagated Islamofascist ideologies. Along with his allies, Baidak formed the National Organization of Russian Muslims (NORM), aiming to draw in Russian radicals.

Baidak argued that the Norse Vikings were fervent converts to Islam and suggested that Odin was an alternative name for Allah, translating to "The One." Although Baidak was a late proponent, the concept of Islamofascism was initially suggested by British extremist David Myatt, who first laid down its foundational principles.

Initially, Baidak collaborated with established Muslim groups, who eventually dismissed him as a provocateur. NORM also took part in the 2011-2012 protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg, trying and failing to gain political traction.

Baidak demonstrated a particular knack for recruitment, notably convincing Egor Ryabinin (Egor ar-Rusi) to go to Syria. He conducted his recruitment from the prayer room at the "Apraksin Dvor" market. In 2013, Ryabinin and several other Russian jihadists were killed by Syrian military near Homs.

Baidak prolifically published articles like "Islam and the Coastal Partisans" and "Unyielding Prison Jamaats," which caught the attention of law enforcement. He was detained for inciting terrorism and endorsing violent acts. At 27, he managed to convince an investigator that his writings stemmed from youthful enthusiasm. He renounced his Islamic faith at his first interrogation and requested house arrest, claiming the need to care for his ill mother.

After his release pending trial in 2013, he immediately relocated to Turkey and was declared wanted. In Turkey, he founded and led the "Society of Russian Muhajirs," which aimed to unite all Muslims fleeing from Russia. Baidak identifies himself as a disciple of the Shazili-Darkawi-Habibi tariqa, a group known for its political activism in Algeria and Morocco against colonialism.

In 2016, Baidak moved to Ukraine, possibly motivated by the 2016 Istanbul Airport attack. Media speculated about his recruitment by the SBU and his obtaining of Ukrainian citizenship through his relatives in Zaporizhzhia. He is also thought to have worked with American political analyst Paul Goble.

In a 2018 interview with the Mariupol agency, Baidak expressed regret that Ukraine lacks nuclear weapons, as he firmly believes that Russia needs to be dismantled:

— "The Russian Federation, with its imperial complexes, is incapable of allowing freedom. It must be dismantled as the Ukrainian nationalist doctrine prescribes. This is my statement, as someone who has lived with this dual-headed anomaly on my passport for twenty-nine years."

Later that year, at age 32, Baidak was arrested at Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport while trying to cross the Armenian border using forged documents under the alias Bohdan Kalyussky. He was detained for illegal border crossing.

Interestingly, Baidak’s arrival in Armenia coincided with the beginning of national protests. He was imprisoned on March 31, the same day opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan started a protest march from Gyumri to Yerevan against the then-ruling government. After interventions from human rights defenders, including Artur Sakunts, Baidak was released and returned to Ukraine.

In Ukraine's far-right circles, Baidak has attracted a following, among them Yulia Fedosyuk, the wife of an "Azov" fighter and an administrator of a Ukrainian Telegram channel that espouses Russophobia, supporting her views with Baidak’s quotes.