A spy wanted by the United States was arrested in Montenegro / The US was offering $10 million for information about him

Mihail Zvinciuk, a former Russian military officer and translator wanted by the U.S. authorities, was arrested in Montenegro, along with other people, including his wife, according to local media citing the security services. The U.S. Department of State was offering a reward of up to 10 million dollars for information about the activities of the network associated with him.

Zvinciuk is accused of having participated in influence operations and attempts to destabilize elections in the United States. The Montenegrin press claims that he is a GRU colonel responsible for hybrid operations, but the information has not been officially confirmed by U.S. or Montenegrin authorities.

He became known through the Rîbar Telegram channel, which published military maps and analyses of the war in Ukraine. Subsequently, the network's activity allegedly expanded to propaganda and influence campaigns in several European countries.

In 2023, Zvinciuk was sanctioned by the European Union for supporting Russia's war against Ukraine and spreading propaganda. In 2024, the U.S. Department of State included him on the list of people involved in operations to influence the electoral process in the U.S. and announced the reward.

British authorities, in turn, associated the Rîbar group with information influence operations. The Russian Embassy in Podgorica announced that it was verifying the circumstances of the arrest.

Read also Donald Trump calls those who use the term “artificial intelligence” instead of “Super Intelligence” “enemies” / EXCLUSIVE | Romania, in the view of the Russian press / The refusal to increase the transit of Ukrainian grain, welcomed by some publications