Founder of Rybar, Russian war propaganda channel, detained in Montenegro

Montenegrin police and security services apprehended Mikhail Zvinchuk, the founder of the pro-Kremlin war blog Rybar, on October 9, according to local reports. Zvinchuk's wife, Valeria Zvinchuk, and three other associates were also taken into custody during the early morning operation in the town of Risan. The investigative outlet Vijesti, citing unnamed sources, disclosed the details of the arrest.

Rybar is among Russia's most widely-followed pro-war blogs on Telegram, boasting a subscriber base of more than 1.5 million. The blog specializes in reporting battlefield updates in Ukraine and disseminating pro-Russian propaganda concerning the conflict. Rybar's personnel have faced sanctions from the U.K., EU, and the U.S., with the latter offering a $10 million bounty for information related to the organization's activities.

Zvinchuk's arrest was part of a broader effort to target Rybar's hybrid activities, which are alleged to be linked to Russian propaganda and influence operations by both U.K. and U.S. authorities. Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic confirmed Zvinchuk's detention, emphasizing that Montenegro is safeguarding its interests and maintaining its path towards European integration.

Montenegro, a Western Balkan nation, joined NATO in 2017 and is currently engaged in negotiations to become a member of the EU.