---
title: "Pro-war Russian channel founder detained, expelled from Montenegro; network linked to Moldova operations"
url: https://moldova1.md/p/87282/pro-war-russian-channel-founder-detained-expelled-from-montenegro-network-linked-to-moldova-operations
published: 2026-10-09T18:01:52Z
language: en
author: "Bogdan Nigai"
section: "International"
source: moldova1.md
---

# Pro-war Russian channel founder detained, expelled from Montenegro; network linked to Moldova operations

> On Friday, October 9, 2026, Montenegrin authorities detained Mihail Zvinciuk—founder and head of the influential Russian media project Rybar—along with his wife, Valeria Zvinciuk, and three other individuals. The operation took place in the town of Risan, on the shores of the Bay of Kotor, and the police carried it out in conjunction with the National Security Agency (ANB).

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/b340e6d8-b0d9-4111-bc4a-7aa1b84f6640.jpg)

On Friday, October 9, 2026, Montenegrin authorities detained Mihail Zvinciuk—founder and head of the influential Russian media project Rybar—along with his wife, Valeria Zvinciuk, and three other individuals. The operation took place in the town of Risan, on the shores of the Bay of Kotor, and the police carried it out in conjunction with the National Security Agency (ANB).

Sophisticated digital equipment, filming gear, and drones were found in the possession of those detained, according to the Montenegrin publications *Vijesti* and *Pobjeda*.

Authorities in Podgorica are investigating a potential national security threat. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić confirmed the detentions and stated that attempts at destabilization and hybrid warfare would not divert Montenegro from its European path. "Montenegro is protecting its interests, and no one will jeopardize our European future," Spajić posted on the X platform.

> Upozoravali smo da pokušaji hibridnog djelovanja i destabilizacije Crne Gore neumorno prate naš evropski put. Ovo nije trenutak za ishitrene izjave, ali ni za naivne zaključke. Postoje ozbiljne indicije koje zahtijevaju da se svaki trag pažljivo ispita i svaka veza sagleda u širem kontekstu. Nećemo iznositi ono što mora ostati u domenu bezbjednosnih službi. Ali poruka nakon današnje uspješne akcije u kojoj je priveden šef informacione mreže "Ribar" je jasna: institucije rade svoj posao, Crna Gora štiti svoje interese i niko neće ugroziti našu evropsku budućnost. — Milojko Spajić (@MickeySpajic) October 9, 2026

The Rybar channel responded by stating that its team members were legally present in Montenegro and intended to film a report on the country's European integration, including at the Cetinje Monastery.

*"Since there were no violations of local laws, we expect all those detained to be released,"* reads the project.

Later, Montenegrin police announced that the five individuals had been banned from staying in the country and would be expelled on national and internal security grounds.

**Who is Mikhail Zvinchuk and what is Rybar?**

Mikhail Zvinchuk, 35, is a former employee of the Russian Ministry of Defense's press service. He founded the Rybar Telegram channel in 2018; it has since become one of Russia's most-followed pro-war channels, boasting over 1.5 million subscribers. The project publishes daily military analyses, maps, and reports on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has expanded into a network of affiliated channels across multiple languages. Zvinchuk is subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union (since 2023) and the United Kingdom. The United States has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information about him and his associates, linked to allegations of interference in the 2024 US elections.

**The link to the Republic of Moldova**

The Rybar network has previously been linked to information influence operations in the Republic of Moldova. In the justification for the sanctions imposed in December 2025, British authorities stated that the project had participated in information campaigns affecting political processes in several countries, including the Republic of Moldova and Armenia.

A detailed investigation published in September 2025 by the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab)—authored by Jakub Kubś and Eto Buziashvili—revealed that the REST Media portal (launched in the summer of 2025 and targeting audiences in the Republic of Moldova ahead of the parliamentary elections) is technically and operationally linked to the Rybar network. Researchers identified shared hosting infrastructure, identical server configurations, and file metadata containing explicit references to Rybar. REST Media promoted anti-EU narratives and attacked pro-European institutions in Chișinău.