Is The Arrest Of Ultra-Nationalist Kremlin Critic Igor Girkin A Red Flag That The Kremlin Is Getting Desperate?

Moscow Times: Russia Detains Former Separatist Ukraine Commander

Russian army veteran and ex-FSB officer Igor Girkin has been detained, his wife and the RBC business daily’s sources said Friday.

Girkin, who helped Moscow annex Crimea in 2014 and then organized pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine, was detained by law enforcement officers around 11:30 a.m. Moscow time, his wife Miroslava Reginskaya said on his Telegram channel.

According to the RBC business daily, the detention came after a complaint from a former member of the Wagner mercenary outfit, which Girkin had criticized in the past.

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WNU Editor: Russian army veteran and ex-FSB officer Igor Girkin mentioned a few months ago on his social media channel that if the Kremlin arrests him, it will be a sign that they are desperate.

Is the Kremlin desperate?

I do not think so. But the Kremlin is worried that many Russians are starting to believe that Putin has been weak in prosecuting the war against Kyiv, and they do not like bloggers like Igor Sechin who are giving a voice to what many are thinking.

I know among my many family members and friends, they do not understand why the lights are still on in Kyiv or that the nightlife continues in Lviv. Some of them are now voicing that Russia should formally declare war against Kyiv, and order a full mobilization of the country. Needless to say. I have some lively discussions with my family members and friends in Russia.

But while I do not think the Kremlin is desperate. I do see a shift in the Kremlin's war strategy to satisfy the pro-war mood in the country. In the past week they have expanded their targeting of non-military infrastructure like grain silos in Odessa, and bridges southwest of Odessa. They are now using cluster munitions, and their new advanced Lancent Kamikaze drone has been deployed. They have also launched a major offensive in the northeast of Ukraine that by the looks of it will dwarf the Wagner offensive in taking Bakhmut.

Is The Arrest Of Ultra-Nationalist Kremlin Critic Igor Girkin A Red Flag That The Kremlin Is Getting Desperate?

Russia arrests a hard-line nationalist who accused Putin of weakness in Ukraine -- AP

Russian hardline Putin critic and commander Strelkov detained in Moscow -- BBC

Pro-war Putin critic charged with inciting extremism -- Reuters

Russia detains prominent hardliner who accused Putin of weakness in Ukraine -- France 24

Pro-war Russian blogger who called Putin a ‘lowlife’ arrested in Moscow -- CNN

Igor Girkin: Russian officials detain nationalist critic -- DW

Igor Girkin, the Russian military commander found guilty of downing MH17, was arrested in Moscow. Here's what we know -- ABC News Australia