Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed his aim of liberating Eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region with a partial military mobilization. Here’s all you need to know.
Vladimir Putin announces partial military mobilization
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilization in Russia. The war between the two nations has extended for almost seven months and Moscow has lost ground on the battlefield. Putin warned the west that he is not bluffing, and added that Russia is planning to use all means possible. The Russian president’s televised public address aired on Wednesday after regions in southern and eastern Ukraine announced to hold plans for voting to become integral parts of Russia.
The address comes against the backdrop of the UN General Assembly in New York where Russia was warned about the referendum. The referendums were expected to take place in the initial months of the war. However, they are taking place in Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions.
More on the Russian President’s public address
In his televised address, President Vladimir Putin accused the Western nations of engaging in “nuclear blackmail”. “To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for separate components and more modern than those of 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,” he stated.
“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 specialty and relevant experience,” added the Russian leader. However, on Wednesday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President dismissed the plans as “noise”. Putin’svotes were also dismissed by Western powers as illegitimate. They are also backing Ukraine with military support. This is helping the Ukrainian forces seize momentum in the Southern and eastern regions.