Montenegrin authorities detained Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the influential Rybar war blog, on Friday in the coastal town of Risan alongside his wife and three other Russian nationals. The detention occurred following government warnings about potential destabilization and hybrid warfare operations targeting the country. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić confirmed the arrest, with local media reporting that the detainees faced expulsion on national security grounds.
Zvinchuk established Rybar in 2018 after working as a press officer at Russia’s defense ministry. The blog has grown into one of Russia’s most widely followed military channels, accumulating over 1.5 million Telegram subscribers, and functions as part of a larger pro-Kremlin media network promoting narratives related to the Ukraine conflict. The channel’s influence extends internationally, with reported efforts to promote pro-Russian messaging in Africa, the Middle East, and discussions around migration issues in Spanish territory.
Western governments have previously taken action against Zvinchuk and his operations. Britain sanctioned both him and Rybar in December 2025, citing their role in disseminating Kremlin propaganda and efforts to undermine support for Ukraine. British officials indicated that Zvinchuk received state funding through Russia’s defense conglomerate Rostec and collaborated with members of Russian intelligence services. The United States has accused him of attempting to interfere in elections and offered a reward for information regarding those involved.
Shortly before his arrest, Zvinchuk publicly claimed to have successfully entered Montenegro despite facing Western sanctions and entry restrictions, suggesting he had evaded border security checks. Russian officials responded to his detention with statements about seeking his release, while former president Dmitry Medvedev suggested Moscow might detain Western citizens for potential prisoner exchanges.
The arrest occurs amid long-standing tensions between Montenegro and Russia. The Balkan nation joined NATO in 2017, has applied for EU membership, and imposed sanctions on Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Montenegro recently approved measures to eliminate visa-free travel privileges for Russian citizens beginning the following month, aligning its immigration policy with European Union standards.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI