A new teen gang inspired by Hunter x Hunter's Phantom Troupe is causing chaos in Ukraine.
As reported on CNN, bystanders have witnessed members of this newly formed gang, known to the public as Redan PMC, brawling in the nation's streets. The gang is named after the Gen'ei Ryodan, or Phantom Troupe, from Hunter x Hunter, which fans fear is canceled due to a status change, while their clothes contain the group's symbol - a spider with the number 4 etched into it. Thus far, sightings of the group include sightings in Lviv, Kharkiv and Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv. Police have allegedly detained the group's 16-year-old ringleader in Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city.
Redan PMC first appeared in Russia, specifically in the country's capital city, Moscow. Initial reports suggested that the Redan PMC formed for the sole reason of brawling with football fans. However, they have since been fighting in large groups at designated areas around Moscow, including, among others, a subway station and a shopping mall. Thus far, the Moscow police force has apprehended more than 350 people for their alleged involvement with the gang. According to a Russian security source, gas cartridges and knives were among the items confiscated from the group's members.
Ukraine Believes the Migration Was Deliberate
Redan PMC's recent migration to Ukraine has caused the nation's authorities to believe that Russia has deliberately tried to influence Ukrainian youth to join its ranks, compounding the serious issues Ukraine is already dealing with. These allegations stem from an ongoing disinformation campaign supposedly targeted toward the country's teenagers. According to the Ukrainian National Police, at least 18 now blocked Telegram channels have attempted to "conduct Russian military information campaigns, undermine the domestic situation in Ukraine and involve minors in illegal activities."
It appears that this Telegram campaign may have succeeded in influencing Ukrainian teens. Thus far, the police have apprehended over 700 people due to their alleged connections with Redan PMC, most of whom are minors. In Kharkiv, 245 participants took part in a large-scale flash mob, of which 215 were minors. Kharkiv's police chief, Volodymyr Tymoshko, stated that a Russian security force called FSB was directly responsible for the incident, influencing the teens through "manipulation and deception."
Recently, the alleged 16-year-old ringleader apprehended by Dnipro's authorities stated that he created the group to "make money from advertising posts, as the topic of Redan is popular on social media." However, he did add that the "idea came from Russia, intending destabilization." One of the instigators, a 15-year-old girl, stated that "there is no Redan in Kyiv" and that the 'fad" is "straight-up Russian propaganda."
Source: CNN