Medvedev Warns Against Travel to Europe, Claims It Is ‘Targeting Russians’

JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned Russians against traveling to Europe, claiming that growing anti-Russian sentiment could leave any Russian citizen at risk of arrest. Writing on Telegram and Russia’s MAX social media platform, he was responding to the detention of Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the pro-war Rybar Telegram channel, his wife and three others in Montenegro on Friday, Oct. 9. Medvedev said Europe had declared “open season” on Russians. “In effect, a hunt has been declared on all (I emphasize, all) Russians,” he wrote. He said it was “foolish for our people to go traipsing around European countries, even with good intentions and important objectives.” “Any Russian could potentially become a target. Neither visas, nor invitations, nor any other guarantees offer protection. Anyone can be arrested, especially if they speak the truth about Western countries, the EU, and the Bandera-style neo-Nazi regime.” He added: “They welcome only ‘relocating scum’ – and even that is only temporary,” referring disparagingly to Russians who have moved abroad. Medvedev suggests detaining Western nationals for exchanges Medvedev suggested that Russia should “expand its pool of detainees available for exchange,” proposing the detention of European and American nationals to secure Russians’ release. “It is now quite likely that we will need to replenish the exchange pool with European and American morons to get our own people out. There is no other way: when living with wolves, one must howl like a wolf,” he wrote. Other Topics of Interest How Real is the Threat of War in Europe? A growing number of official bodies are warning of the possibility of Russia launching military operations against Europe. Russia has previously secured the return of its citizens through exchanges involving Western nationals held in Russian prisons. An August 2024 prisoner exchange included the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan, alongside Russian opposition figures. The deal prompted debate over whether such agreements encourage further detentions, a concern examined in Kyiv Post’s opinion coverage of hostage diplomacy. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.