Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to deliver a “speech to the nation” tonight 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.

Several publications, including The Guardian, write that Putin’s intervention was initially scheduled for 8:00 p.m., then for 9:00 p.m.

Pravda, citing the Russian news website RBC and citing three sources close to the presidential administration, reports that the speech is expected to be broadcast by the end of the day, but cannot say what its topic will be.

And the Minister of Defense of Russia Serhiy Shoigu could address the people, the cited sources report.

Putin’s speech also takes place 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 region and Zaporizhzhia announced referendums on joining Russia, to which Moscow immediately received a positive reaction. 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.