Montenegrin police have cracked down on a network of mercenaries who fought for Russia in Ukraine. According to local media reports from Podgorica, Danko Savić, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina permanently residing in Montenegro, was arrested. Authorities reported that he had €1.5 million in his bank account, allegedly earned during his service in Russian forces.
Savić was arrested as part of the operation codenamed “Lugansk.” During searches of his residence and other premises, police seized 12.2 kilograms of explosives. The operation so far has involved 12 individuals and 13 searches in Danilovgrad, Nikšić, and Podgorica.
Police announced that a total of 24 firearms, over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, several gun frames, nine knives, swords, bayonets, as well as uniforms, flags, and other insignia of criminal groups and organizations, were confiscated.
Among the seized items were bulletproof vests, helmets, communication devices, SIM cards, and identity cards of the “Montenegrin Cossack Brotherhood,” often under different names.
According to authorities, evidence indicates that Savić served in foreign military structures of the Russian Federation in Luhansk from early 2023 until early 2025. He is suspected to have been primarily financially motivated, earning €1.5 million during this period.
“Collected material evidence indicates suspicions that Savić, in violation of domestic law and international law, participated in an armed foreign formation of the Russian Federation, including in Luhansk, in the war Russia is conducting against Ukraine on Ukrainian territory, from early 2023 to early 2025. Based on his participation in this foreign conflict and related criminal activity, he acquired and illegally possessed substantial sums of money, €1,500,000 of which were in his personal bank account,” police stated.
