US offers $10m bounty for information on Russian war propaganda outlet Rybar

The U.S. government has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information “leading to the identification or location” of Rybar, a prominent Russian military media outlet. This initiative was revealed in a statement from the Rewards for Justice mission, highlighting the outlet’s role in promoting pro-Russian narratives amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

With over 1.3 million subscribers on its Telegram channel, Rybar aims to bolster Russia’s military capabilities while advancing anti-Western sentiment. Allegedly supported by the late Kremlin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, Rybar now receives funding from Rostec, Russia’s state defense corporation, which has faced U.S. sanctions since 2022. According to the U.S. government, the outlet operates additional propaganda channels, including #HOLDTHELINE and #STANDWTHTEXAS, aimed at influencing U.S. political interests.

Further amplifying concerns, Rybar has launched the “TEXASvsUSA” channel on X (formerly Twitter), which is designed to “promote social division, stoke partisan and racial discord, and encourage hate and violence” as the U.S. approaches its presidential election next month. The U.S. has previously reported that Moscow has invested millions to sway the upcoming elections, utilizing dozens of web domains to disseminate Russian propaganda covertly.

In response to the bounty announcement, Rybar’s director Mikhail Zvinchuk refuted claims of influencing U.S. elections and provided his registration address in Moscow. He cheekily suggested that Rybar expects the U.S. government to facilitate the payment for this information via direct transfer, a donation button on their website, or even cryptocurrency.

The U.S. government’s crackdown on foreign disinformation signals a continued commitment to countering threats to its electoral integrity and national security.