Putin’s repressive machinery turns inward to target pro-war figures

The characters now being targeted are the type who have thrived in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Photograph: Alexander Kazakov/AP

A pro-Kremlin pundit who for years has hailed Vladimir Putin as one of history’s great men in appearances on foreign media. A military blogger, zealous fundraiser for Russian troops, and promoter of openly genocidal rhetoric about Ukraine.

A Ukrainian-born army volunteer and commentator for the state-controlled RT network lamenting that Russia had not launched its full-scale invasion sooner.