Russian President Vladimir Putin He ordered a partial mobilization of Russia’s reservists, in a move that appeared to be an admission that Moscow’s war against Ukraine would not go according to plan after nearly seven months of fighting and amid recent battlefield losses of the Kremlin’s forces.
The Russian leader, in a televised address to the nation broadcast Wednesday morning, also warned the West that it was not deceiving in using every means at its disposal to protect Russian territory, in what appeared to be a veiled reference to a nuclear Russia. possibility. Putin has previously warned the West against backing Russia against the wall and berated NATO countries for supplying weapons to help Ukraine.
Officials said the total number of reservists to be called up is 300,000.
Only those with relevant combat and service experience will be mobilized, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu He said. He added that there are about 25 million people who meet these criteria, but only about 1% of them will be mobilized.
Putin’s announcement came against the backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last February was the target of widespread international criticism.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky He is scheduled to address the rally at a pre-registered address on Wednesday. Putin did not travel to New York.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace He described Putin’s mobilization announcement as “an admission of the failure of his conquest”.
“He and his Secretary of Defense have sent tens of thousands of their compatriots to their deaths, ill-equipped and poorly,” Wallace said in a statement. “No amount of threats and propaganda can hide the fact that Ukraine is winning this war, that the international community is united and that Russia has become a global pariah.”
The partial mobilization order came a day after Russia-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold a vote on becoming an integral part of Russia — a move that could pave the way for Moscow to escalate the war after Ukrainian successes.
Referendums, which had been expected since the first months of the war, will begin on Friday in the partially Russian-controlled regions of Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhia and Donetsk.
The war has driven up food prices around the world
The war, which has claimed thousands of lives, has caused food prices to rise around the world and caused energy costs to rise. It has also raised fears of a possible nuclear disaster at Europe’s largest nuclear plant in the now-occupied southeast of Ukraine.
In his speech, Putin accused the West of being involved in “nuclear blackmail” and referred to “statements of some senior representatives of NATO countries about the possibility of using nuclear weapons of mass destruction against Russia.”
He did not specify who made these comments.
“To those who allow themselves such statements about Russia, I would like to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for separate and more modern components than those of the NATO countries and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal. “.
“This is not a hoax,” he added.
Putin said he had already signed the partial mobilization decree due to start on Wednesday. Large-scale mobilization is likely to be unpopular in Russia and could weaken Putin’s standing after the recent military setbacks in Ukraine.
“We are talking about partial mobilization, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and, above all, those who served in the armed forces have a certain military specialization and relevant experience,” Putin said.
On plans for the referendum, Putin noted that the Russian-backed authorities in the occupied Ukrainian regions had asked the Kremlin for its support in its efforts to become part of Russia.
“We will do everything we can to create safe conditions during referendums so that people can express their will,” Putin stressed.
Foreign leaders described the ballot papers as illegal and non-binding. Zelensky said it was a “trick” and “noise” to distract the audience.
Russia’s Defense Minister, Shoigu, also said that 5,937 Russian soldiers have been killed in the conflict in Ukraine, a number far below Western estimates that Russia has lost tens of thousands.
In his evening speech, Zelensky said that Ukraine’s commitment to retaking the areas occupied by Russian forces had not changed.
“The situation on the front line clearly indicates that the initiative belongs to Ukraine,” he said. “Our positions don’t change because of noise or any advertisements somewhere. We have the full support of our partners in this.”
Even partial mobilization is likely to increase Russian dissatisfaction with the war. The opposition Vezna movement called for nationwide protests on Wednesday, saying, “Thousands of Russian men – our fathers, our brothers, our husbands – will be thrown into a meat grinder in a war. What will they die for? And what will mothers and children die for? Crying for?”
It was not clear how many would dare protest amid Russia’s sweeping crackdown on dissent and harsh laws against vilification of soldiers and the military operation.
Voting in the upcoming referendum will surely go the way of Moscow.
In another sign that Russia is heading toward a protracted conflict and may escalate in intensity, the Kremlin-controlled House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to toughen laws against desertion, surrender and looting by Russian forces. Lawmakers also voted to impose 10-year prison sentences on soldiers refusing to fight.
If, as expected, it is approved by the Senate and then signed by Putin, the legislation will strengthen the hands of commanders against deteriorating morale among soldiers.
In the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar, the bombing continued around the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Ukrainian energy company Energoatom said Russian bombing again destroyed infrastructure at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and briefly forced workers to run two diesel generators for emergency power to the cooling pumps of one of the reactors.
These pumps are necessary to avoid a meltdown in a nuclear facility even though all six reactors at the plant are closed. Energoatom said the generators were later shut down as mains electricity returned.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant It has been in the spotlight for months due to concerns that the bombing could lead to a radioactive leak. Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the bombing.
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