---
title: "Founder of Pro-War Telegram Channel 'Rybar' Mikhail Zвинchuk Detained in Montenegro"
description: "Mikhail Zvinchuk, the creator of the pro-war Telegram channel 'Rybar', for whom the US previously offered $10 million, has been detained in Montenegro."
date: 2026-10-09T08:58:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/founder-of-rybar-telegram-channel-mikhail-zvinchuk-detained-in-montenegro
tags: [rybar, zvinchuk, montenegro, usa-sanctions, telegram]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Founder of Pro-War Telegram Channel 'Rybar' Mikhail Zвинchuk Detained in Montenegro

![Detention of Rybar channel founder Mikhail Zvinchuk in Montenegro](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/09/v-chernogorii-zaderzhan-osnovatel-rybarya-mikhail-zvinchuk/v-chernogorii-zaderzhan-osnovatel-rybarya-mikhail-zvinchuk-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Mikhail Zvinchuk was detained in the Montenegrin town of Risan on October 9, 2026.
- The US previously offered $10 million for information about the 'Rybar' channel.
- The operation was conducted by the police and the National Security Agency of Montenegro.
- The project has previously faced sanctions from the US, UK, and EU.

On the morning of October 9, 2026, law enforcement agencies conducted a special operation in the Montenegrin town of Risan, resulting in the detention of Mikhail Zvinchuk, one of the most prominent Russian authors of pro-war Telegram resources and creator of the 'Rybar' channel. Along with him, security forces detained his wife and three other individuals who were in the same premises. The operation was carried out jointly by local police and the National Security Agency of Montenegro.

### Background and International Search

The detention of Zvinchuk marks a new turn in the chain of international pressure on structures and authors associated with pro-war content in Russia. Back in 2024, the United States officially announced a major financial reward of 10 million dollars for any information about the 'Rybar' Telegram channel or related individuals. Washington justified this by suspicions of attempts to influence American elections and promote destructive narratives. ### Sanctions and Financial Ties

In addition, the project's activities have repeatedly become the focus of Western regulators. In July of previous years, the United Kingdom and the European Union imposed personal sanction packages against the management and employees of the resource. Analytical reports from Western agencies have repeatedly emphasized that 'Rybar' actively contributes to strengthening Russia's military potential.

### Contradictory Data

Regarding the sources of project financing, researchers' opinions and official data differ. Historically, analysts linked the initial stage of the channel's existence and promotion with the liquidated head of PMC Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin. However, in the subsequent period, financial support for the project, according to foreign and specialized investigations, shifted to the Russian state defense-industrial corporation Rostec, which has been under strict US restrictions since mid-2022.

### Consequences and Reaction

The current arrest in Montenegro demonstrates the growing vulnerability of opinion leaders and media managers who have come into the spotlight of Western intelligence services and international sanction lists. Experts note that extradition or further legal procedures regarding Zvinchuk could significantly affect the functioning of the entire network of pro-Russian and anti-Western information resources operating outside the Russian Federation.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [В Черногории поймали автора z-канала "Рыбарь", за которого США предлагали 10 млн долларов](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/chornogoriyi-piymali-avtora-z-kanalu-rybar-1791535673.html) - Основной источник информации о задержании Звинчука в городе Рисан.
- [Создатель Telegram-канала «Рыбарь», распространявшего ложную информацию об Азербайджане, задержан ...](https://ru.apa.az/strani-snq/sozdatel-telegram-kanala-rybar-rasprostranyavsego-loznuyu-informaciyu-ob-azerbaidzane-zaderzan-v-montenegro-677247) - Подтверждает факт задержания основателя канала в Черногории.
- [В Черногории задержали основателя антиазербайджанского Telegram-канала «Рыбарь»](https://vesti.az/proisshestviye/v-cernogorii-zaderzali-osnovatelya-antiazerbaidzanskogo-telegram-kanala-rybar-619727) - Дублирует информацию о спецоперации в Черногории.
- [Стало известно, зачем основатель «Рыбаря» Звинчук приезжал в Черногорию](https://glavny.tv/last-news/incident-news/stalo-izvestno-zachem-osnovatel-rybarya-zvinchuk-priezzhal-v-chernogoriyu/) - Контекстуальные данные о визите в Черногорию.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Who was detained in Montenegro?
**A:** Mikhail Zvinchuk, the creator of the pro-war Telegram channel 'Rybar', was detained in the Montenegrin town of Risan along with his wife and three accompanying persons.

### Q: Why did the US target 'Rybar'?
**A:** The US offered a $10 million reward due to suspicions that the channel was involved in attempts to influence American elections and promote pro-Russian narratives.