Putin also said Russia would give its full support to referendums announced for this weekend in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia on joining the Russian Federation. He accused the West of starting a war against Russia in Ukraine in 2014. “In its aggressive anti-Russian policy, the West has crossed all lines,” the Russian president said. He accused the West of planning to destroy Russia and use nuclear blackmail. Putin said he would use “all the means at our disposal” and that those trying to use nuclear blackmail against Russia would find the tables could be turned against them. He said plainly “I’m not bluffing.” Updated at 07.21 BST Important events Show only key events Please enable JavaScript to use this feature
Putin is making a ‘very dangerous nuclear gamble’, EU says
Vladimir Putin is making a “very dangerous nuclear gamble” and must “stop such reckless behaviour”, an EU official has warned. European Commission spokesman Peter Stano added that “fake, illegal referendums” planned in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia this weekend would not be recognised. Stano told reporters: Putin is making a nuclear bet. He uses the nuclear element as part of his arsenal of terror, it is unacceptable. EU member states have discussed how to respond to the latest developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine, he continued, warning Moscow that there would be “consequences from our side”. In a national address on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would mobilize further troops for the war in Ukraine. He argued that the West is using the threat of nuclear weapons to blackmail Russia and that “those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the weather can turn and point in their direction.” Putin also said Russia would give its full support to referendums announced for this weekend in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia on joining the Russian Federation. ‘I’m not bluffing’: Putin warns West about nuclear weapons – video Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has accused Vladimir Putin of trying to “trap hundreds of thousands of people” in a “criminal war” after the Russian president announced a partial mobilisation. In a video message from prison recorded and released by his lawyers, Navalny said partial mobilization would lead to a “mass tragedy”. Navalny, who is serving more than a decade in prison in a series of cases that appear designed to keep him behind bars indefinitely, said: This will lead to a huge tragedy, huge numbers of deaths… to maintain his personal power, Putin went to a neighboring country, killed people there and now he is sending a huge amount of Russian citizens to this war. He added: It is clear that the criminal war is getting worse, deepening, and Putin is trying to involve as many people as possible in it. He wants to stain hundreds of thousands of people in this blood. Hi to all. I’m Léonie Chao-Fong and I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the Russia-Ukraine war. Feel free to send me a message if you have something to point out, you can reach me on Twitter or via email. Updated at 11.31 BST
Summary of the day so far…
Vladimir Putin has announced a partial mobilization in Russia in a major escalation that puts the country’s people and economy on a wartime footing. The president also threatened nuclear retaliation, saying Russia has “many weapons to respond” to what he called Western threats on Russian soil, and added that he was not bluffing. In a much-anticipated televised address, Putin said the “partial mobilization” was a direct response to the dangers posed by the West, which “wants to destroy our country” and claimed the West had tried “to convert the people of Ukraine into cannon fodder’. . “Military service will only apply to citizens who are in the reserve, especially those who have served in the armed forces, have certain military professions and relevant experience,” Putin said. Shortly after the president’s announcement, the country’s defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, said 300,000 Russians “with previous military experience” would be called up. Under the decree signed by Putin on Wednesday, the contracts of soldiers fighting in Ukraine will be extended until the end of the partial conscription period. Shoigu also announced that Russia has officially lost 5,937 personnel in the “special military operation” in Ukraine since it invaded on February 24. The most recent casualty figure for pro-Russian forces from the Ukrainian armed forces is almost ten times that number, at just over 55,000. An adviser to the Ukrainian president Mykhailo Podolyak said Putin’s decision to announce a partial mobilization was a “predictable step” that underscored that the war was not going according to the Kremlin’s plan. Putin’s speech was also quickly condemned by Western leaders. German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said Russia’s decision to announce a partial mobilization was “another bad and wrong step by Russia”. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Putin’s breaking promises not to mobilize sections of the population and illegally annexing parts of Ukraine are an admission that his invasion is failing.” Putin’s decision to announce a partial mobilization sent shockwaves across Russia. Since the start of the invasion, the Russian president has sought to shield his population from the grim reality of war, with the Kremlin keen to cultivate a sense of normalcy on the streets of Moscow and other major cities. But with the decision to announce partial mobilization and the call-up of 300,000 mostly young Russian men, the war will now enter the home of many families across the country.
Vladimir Putin announces partial mobilization of Russian troops for Ukraine – video
Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said the country would put its rapid reaction force on alert as the mobilization would also take place on its border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said the country would not offer refuge to any Russian fleeing Moscow’s troop mobilization. Putin also said Russia would give its full support to referendums announced for this weekend in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia on joining the Russian Federation. He accused the West of starting a war against Russia in Ukraine in 2014. “In its aggressive anti-Russian policy the West has crossed all lines,” the Russian president said. Russian proxies in four occupied regions of Ukraine announced on Tuesday their intentions to hold referendums between September 23 and 27 on joining the Russian Federation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking in a video call released early Wednesday, said of the referendums: “Our position does not change according to this noise or any other announcement.” Kyiv said the “fake” referendums were meaningless and vowed to “eliminate” threats posed by Russia, saying its forces would continue to retake territory regardless of what Moscow or its proxies announced. Zelensky will address the UN general assembly via video link on Wednesday.
This is, from me, Martin Bellam in London for now. I will be back later. Léonie Chao-Fong will be here shortly to take you through the rest of the day’s developments and reaction to Vladimir Putin’s announcement this morning. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki reiterated his country’s support for Ukraine. Reuters reports that he told the media: We will do everything we can with our allies so that NATO can support Ukraine even more so that it can defend itself. Reports of partial mobilization have been confirmed. Russia will attempt to destroy Ukraine and seize part of its territory. We cannot allow this. Morawiecki participated in military exercises conducted by the Polish army with US and British allies in eastern Poland. Finland’s Defense Minister Andi Kaikkonen said the country was closely monitoring the situation in neighboring Russia. “As far as the outskirts of Finland are concerned, I can say that the military situation is stable and calm,” Kaikkonen was quoted as saying by Reuters. He added: “Our defense forces are well prepared and the situation is being closely monitored.” Earlier this year, Finland applied to join the NATO alliance. Updated at 11.12 BST
Russian proxy says occupied areas of Mykolayiv region to be incorporated into Kherson ahead of referendum – reports
The administration of southern Ukraine’s Russian-settled Kherson province said parts of the neighboring Mykolaiv region under the control of Russian forces will be incorporated into Kherson province, Russia’s Tass news agency reported. Reuters notes that the decision would mean the incorporated region would also vote in a proposed referendum this weekend on annexation by Russia.
Russian Defense Minister: Losses in Ukraine reach 5,937
Tass news agency reports in Russia that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Russia-24 TV channel that Russia has officially lost nearly 6,000 people during its so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine, which began on February 24. He mentions that: I can’t help but say that we haven’t talked about it in a long time: our losses. Our losses in the special operation amounted to 5,937 people. He also claimed that 90% of those injured during the…
