Story perspectives

Montenegro Arrests Rybar Founder Mikhail Zvinchuk for Destabilization

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 2:59 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Mikhail Zvinchuk Arrested

Montenegro arrested Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of Rybar war blog, for alleged destabilization.
The Oct. 9 raid in Risan also detained his wife and three other Russians.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic said the arrests protect Montenegro’s EU path and warn against hybrid threats.
The United States offered a $10 million reward for Zvinchuk and has sanctioned him.
Deputy Security Council head Dmitry Medvedev warned Russia could detain European and American citizens in retaliation.

Summary

Prigozhin Funds Rybar

Mikhail Zvinchuk and Denis Shchukin created Rybar in 2018 as a military-analysis Telegram channel.
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Rybar expanded into a broader propaganda network.
Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin reportedly provided financing for Rybar.
British authorities say state corporation Rostec supplies part of Rybar’s funding.
Rybar now runs multiple Telegram channels and social-media accounts to spread pro-Kremlin narratives.

History

Historical Context

Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea sparked UN-backed sanctions and a surge in covert information campaigns that NATO warned as hybrid warfare. The EU’s 2014 UNGA vote (100-11-58) condemned the referendum, prompting Balkan states like Montenegro to tighten scrutiny of Russian-linked media, echoing broader regional moves to counter disinformation and consider deeper NATO cooperation.

1 of 3

Mikhail Zvinchuk Arrested

Montenegro arrested Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of Rybar war blog, for alleged destabilization.
The Oct. 9 raid in Risan also detained his wife and three other Russians.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic said the arrests protect Montenegro’s EU path and warn against hybrid threats.
The United States offered a $10 million reward for Zvinchuk and has sanctioned him.
Deputy Security Council head Dmitry Medvedev warned Russia could detain European and American citizens in retaliation.

1 / 3