LONDON Russian President Vladimir Putin called up 300,000. He said that Moscow would fight back with all its arsenal if the West tried to “nuclear blackmail” the country over its conflict in Ukraine.
This was Russia’s first mobilisation of this nature since World War Two. It also signaled an important escalation in the war, now in its seventh-month.
This was in response to recent setbacks suffered by Russian forces. They were driven from the areas they had taken in northeast Ukraine during a counter-offensive by Ukraine this month, and are now stuck in the south.
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Putin made a televised speech to the Russian nation: “If our country’s territorial integrity is threatened, we will use every available means to protect our citizens – this isn’t a bluff.”
He said that Russia had “lots to respond” to his threats.
Russia’s defense minister stated that the partial mobilization would see 300,000. Reservists would be called up, and that it would only apply to people with military experience.
While Russia has been involved with a variety of conflicts since World War Two but this was the first call-up. Conscripts were a key component of the Soviet Union’s long war against Afghanistan.
Sergei Shoigu, Defence Minister, stated that 5,397 Russian soldiers were killed since the beginning of the conflict.
According to the United States, between 70,000 and 80.000 Russian personnel were killed or injured last month. In July, Russia’s death total was estimated at approximately 15,000
Mykhailo Podolyak, the Ukrainian presidential advisor, said that Russia’s mobilization was a predictable move that would prove very unpopular and that it highlighted that the war is not moving according to Moscow’s plan.
Podolyak stated to Reuters that the appeal was “absolutely predictable” and seemed more like an attempt by Russia to justify its own failure. “Russia’s scenario is not working in the war.”
World leaders met at the United Nations in New York to denounce Russia’s invasion Ukraine. They also discussed plans for four occupied areas to hold referendums on Russia joining in the days ahead.
Pro-Russian regional leaders announced Tuesday that they would hold referendums on Sept. 23-27 in Luhansk and Donetsk provinces. These regions account for around 15% of Ukraine’s territory.
Russia considers Luhansk (and Donetsk), which make up the Donbas area that Moscow partially occupied 2014, independent states. The West and Ukraine consider all areas of Ukraine that are held by Russian forces illegally occupied.
Russia holds 60% of Donetsk, and had nearly captured all of Luhansk in July following slow advances over months of intense fighting.
These gains are now in danger after Russian forces were driven out of neighboring Kharkiv province last month, losing control over their main supply lines for large parts of the Donetsk-Luhansk frontlines.
‘COMPLETE PLUNDER’
Putin stated that the purpose of partially mobilizing its 2 million-strong military reserveists was to defend Russia’s territories and borders. He stated that the West didn’t want peace in Ukraine.
He stated that Washington, London and Brussels were pressuring Kyiv to “transfermilitary operations to our territory”, with the goal of “complete plundering our country”.
The West supplied long-range weapons to the West, and Ukraine’s military used them occasionally to strike targets in Russia during the conflict.
Putin stated that “Nuclear blackmail was also used”, citing Ukraine’s Zaporozhzhia power plant, which is the largest in Europe. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of putting the plant at risk during the fighting.
He accused NATO officials of making statements about the “possibility and admissibility” of using weapons mass destruction against Russia, namely nuclear weapons.
“To all those who make such statements about Russia, I remind them that they also have various means of destruction and some parts more advanced than those of NATO countries.
Putin reiterated his goal to “liberate” Ukraine’s Donbas industrial heartland and stated that most people in the Donbas did not want to be subject to the “yoke of Ukraine.”
Speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, stated that Putin would only abandon his “imperial ambitions” when he realized he can’t win the war.
Scholz stated, “This is why Russia will not accept any peace accords and this is why Ukraine must have the ability to resist Russia’s attack.”
MARKETS RETREAT
Petr Fiala, the Czech Prime Minister, stated that the mobilization was “further evidence that Russia is sole aggressor”.
He stated, “It is necessary to help Ukraine. In our own interests, we must continue with them.”
Ben Wallace, British defense minister, said that Putin had admitted to the mobilization that “his invasion was failing”.
Bridget Brink, the U.S. ambassador in Ukraine, stated that Russia had shown weakness by announcing its mobilization of reserves and setting forth the referenda for the Russian-occupied territory.
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China’s foreign minister urged all parties for dialogue and consultation to find a solution to security concerns.
Putin’s words also impacted global markets which have seen-sawed ever since the Russian invasion in Ukraine on February 24th. The euro fell 0.7% against the US dollar and European stock markets opened lower. Investors piled into safe-haven bond, driving yields on German government debt and U.S. bonds down.
Michel Hewson is the chief markets strategist at CMC Markets. He stated: “It’s because he decided to dust off that nuclear card that clearly hasn’t went down well…I think that there is a perception of him really raising the ante. How does the West respond?
Putin describes the Russian military action in Ukraine as a “special military operations” to exterminate dangerous nationalists and “denazify the country.” It is claimed by the West that it is a land grab, and an attempt to retake a country that was freed from Moscow’s control in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
This war has resulted in thousands of deaths, destruction of cities, and millions fleeing their homes.