OUR Vladimir Insert announced a partial mobilization on Wednesday, calling up up to 300,000 reservists in a drastic bid to reverse its losses Russia in Ukraineincluding the recent retreat of Russian troops in its northeastern region Kharkiv.
In his speech today, Putin lashed out at the West, expressing support for planned referendums in the occupied regions of Ukraine, which are planned as a prelude to their annexation by Russia. In addition, the Russian president has hinted that he is ready to use nuclear weapons to protect Russian territories, as he defines them.
“In the face of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and in order to protect Russia and our people, we will definitely use all the means at our disposal,” Putin warned. “We are not bluffing,” he said, clearly referring to Russian nuclear power.
“I emphasize once again – with all the means at our disposal,” he added.
Kremlin talks about “Russia-NATO war”
Expressing strong dissatisfaction with Western support for Ukraine, Putin described the war as an attempt by Western elites to destroy and dismember Russia, and described the situation in Ukraine as a confrontation between Moscow and NATO countries.
These remarks were reinforced in a separate speech by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, despite Western leaders including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urging Putin not to invade while they moderated their support Ukraine, a sign that their countries are not at war directly with Russia.
Plans for referendums in four occupied regions of eastern Ukraine Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson – from Friday to Tuesday, pave the way for their illegal annexation by Russia, a move that will face global rejection.
However, the Russian side can use the referendums under consideration as an argument in favor of the fact that it itself is under attack.
What does partial credit mean?
Putin said the mobilization would start today, Wednesday, without giving details.
It will concern only men with military experience, of whom there are about 25 million, but only 1%, that is, 300 thousand people, will be called up.
“In general, total conscription will mean that all men between the ages of 18 and 60 will be prohibited from leaving Russia and will have to join the armed forces. It remains unclear whether this also applies to partial military service, ”an Al Jazeera correspondent reports.
The British Ministry of Defense said the decision was likely aimed at reducing the number of deserters and easing direct pressure on the military.
As a senior analyst told Reuters: “This is not yet an all-out war for Russia, because there was no total mobilization. But I think they underestimate Putin. Each time it moves to a new escalation. For him, it is a matter of life or death. I see no reason for his next step to be de-escalation, unless he wins.”
What is behind the Kremlin’s new strategy
The call, however, will bring millions of Russian families face to face with the harsh reality that their relatives will have to go to war.
In addition, according to The Washington Post, military analysts have cast doubt on short-term gains, saying it is unclear whether Russia can train, arm and deploy 300,000 reservists, given that most of its military is already in Ukraine and it has even been hit. from significant losses. loss in officer ranks.
The recent enlistment decision failed to turn the tide of the war by making the Russian side’s dissatisfaction with the high number of casualties on the battlefield more obvious.
A Russian government spokesman said 300,000 reserves were enough for Russia to buy time without launching new attacks.
The same official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Kremlin is still hopeful that Western support for Ukraine will collapse over the winter, forcing Ukraine to surrender on Russia’s terms.
Source: Kathimerini
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