Russia detains hard-line nationalist who accused Putin of weakness in Ukraine

Igor Girkin, also know as Igor Strelkov, the former military chief for Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine was detained on Friday, July 21, 2023 on charges of extremism (Pavel Golovkin/AP/PA)

A prominent Russian hard-line nationalist who accused President Vladimir Putin of weakness and indecision in Ukraine was detained on Friday on charges of extremism.

It is seen as a signal the Kremlin has toughened its approach with critics after last month’s abortive rebellion by the Wagner mercenary company.