Russian President Vladimir Putin has postponed his “speech to the nation” until Wednesday, according to pro-Kremlin journalist Volodymyr Solovyov and political scientist Sergei Markov.

The television stations “Russia 1” and “Russia Today” also removed advertising on the billboard.

Several publications, including The Guardian, wrote that Putin’s intervention was initially scheduled for tomorrow at 8:00 p.m., then at 9:00 p.m., but it did not take place.

The “speech to the people” of the leader of the Kremlin should take place for the first time since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, and there are also reports of the possibility of announcing a general mobilization in Russia.

The speech was made in the context of the fact that today, in the midst of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, the separatist authorities in the occupied regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson Oblast and Zaporizhzhia announced referendums on joining Russia, to which Moscow immediately reacted positively. In the two so-called people’s republics of Donbas and occupied Kherson, the voting period was also announced – from September 23 to 27.

The White House national security adviser reacted by saying that the referendums and Moscow’s intention to mobilize more forces in Ukraine reflect the military failures of Russian forces, which have been forced out of several regions they have occupied since February.

“The United States will never recognize Russia’s claims regarding the alleged annexation of Ukraine,” said Jake Sullivan.