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Founder of Russian war blog Rybar arrested in Montenegro

Police detained the Rybar founder and four associates on suspicion of hybrid activity, and authorities confiscated drones and other digital equipment.

  • On Friday, authorities in Montenegro arrested Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the influential Russian war blog Rybar, in the Adriatic resort of Risan following warnings of hybrid warfare attempts to destabilize the country.
  • Intelligence agencies monitored the group for several days after arrival as the National Security Agency executed an operation targeting 'hybrid activities' by Russian information networks suspected of undermining Montenegro's interests.
  • Rybar-Led channels claim the team, including creative director Valeria Zvinchuk, was in the country legally and planning to film at a monastery. The Russian Foreign Ministry is working "to resolve the situation," Rybar posted.
  • The United States State Department previously offered up to $10 million for information on 19 individuals managing Rybar-led channels, alleging they promoted Russia's political interests ahead of 2024 elections and encouraged discord in the United States.
  • "Montenegro is protecting its interests," Prime Minister Spajic stated, as the European Union candidate previously banned Russian state media and expelled diplomats over the war in Ukraine, signaling its pro-Western alignment.
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198 Articles

Lean Left

Montenegro has arrested five Russian citizens. One is a well-known military blogger with connections to the Russian army.

·Berlin, Germany
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Montenegro comes from the country of the participants of the Russian hybrid network “Rybar”, in part its founder Mikhail Zvinchuk. They were designated a threat to national impunity, writes the publication of Vijesti with a reference to the statement of the police. It is noted that today the police jointly with the Agency of National Immunity and with the support of international partners conducted a coordinated operation “aimed at prevention, d…

·Kyiv, Ukraine
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Lean Right

The founder of the most read Russian military blog Rybar, Mikhail Swinchuk, has been arrested in Montenegro for US sanctions.

·Berlin, Germany
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Lean Left

Montenegro expelled the founder of the Russian propaganda network “Rybar” for security reasonsMikhail Zvinchuk and four other people were detained and decided to expel from Montenegro for security reasons. They seized the drone, the cameras and telephones.

·Kyiv, Ukraine
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Reuters broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Friday, October 9, 2026.
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