Montenegrin authorities arrested Mikhail Zvinchuk, the founder of the pro-Russian military project Rybar, during a security operation in the town of Risan. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić confirmed the arrests, which targeted several individuals including Zvinchuk’s wife, amid warnings of hybrid warfare and potential destabilization attempts in the country.
Security Forces Target Rybar Founder in Risan
Officers seized sophisticated digital equipment, drones, and electronic devices during the raid after monitoring the group for several days. The operation aimed to suppress the hybrid activities of the Rybar network, which maintains close ties to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Montenegro Defends European Future Against Hybrid Threats
Prime Minister Spajić emphasized that the operation sends a clear signal regarding national security. “Montenegro protects its interests and no one will threaten our European future,” Spajić posted on the social media platform X. The arrests occur against a backdrop of long-standing diplomatic tensions between Podgorica and Moscow, intensified by Montenegro’s 2017 accession to NATO and its enforcement of sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine. Podgorica has also banned Russian state media and expelled diplomats over spying allegations.
Russian War-Tracking Blog Faces State Funding and US Scrutiny
Launched in 2018, Rybar has grown into a popular Russian war-tracking blog, boasting over one and a half million subscribers on Telegram. British intelligence assessments indicate that the network receives funding from the state-owned corporation Rostec and operates partly under the direction of the Russian presidential office. Meanwhile, the United States Department of State previously offered a reward of up to ten million dollars for information on individuals involved in managing Rybar accounts linked to interference in U.S. presidential elections. Washington claims these accounts promoted Russian political interests before the 2024 U.S. elections.
The network produces content in English, Arabic, Spanish, French, and Serbian, targeting audiences in Western nations, the Middle East, Africa, and the Balkans. Rybar manages specialized projects supporting Russian activities in Africa and maps Western weapon delivery routes to Ukraine. Because of his role as executive director, the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on Zvinchuk.
Funding for the project also involved Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group. Reports indicate Rybar teams travel within the EU Schengen area to gather propaganda material, including Russians living long-term in the bloc. In the Czech Republic, police previously detained and questioned two propagandists before ordering them to leave the country.
Medvedev Responds to European Travel Risks for Russian Citizens
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, reacted to the arrest by warning that Moscow might need to expand its prisoner exchange fund to secure the release of Russian citizens detained in Europe. Medvedev stated that traveling to European countries poses inherent risks for Russians, asserting that citizens face potential persecution regardless of their intentions. “It is obviously a mistake that our people travel through European countries,” he said. Meanwhile, representatives for the Telegram channel maintained that the detained group entered Montenegro legally to film near a Serbian Orthodox monastery in Cetinje and remained in contact with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Montenegro Arrests
What specific charges or suspicions prompted the raid in Risan?
Montenegrin authorities acted on warnings of hybrid warfare and potential destabilization attempts, arresting the group after tracking them for several days and seizing drones and digital equipment.
How did the Rybar project respond to the detentions?
The channel stated that its staff members were in Montenegro legally to film at a monastery in Cetinje and confirmed that its extensive network of Telegram channels across multiple regions remains fully operational.
What role did Mikhail Zvinchuk previously hold in the Russian government?
Zvinchuk worked in the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defence before establishing the Rybar project in 2018 alongside Denis Shchukin. In 2022, he received a state decoration and was included in a Vladimir Putin working group for the “special military operation.” Some speculate he is a colonel in the GRU military intelligence.
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