Accusing the West of engaging in “nuclear blackmail,” Putin claimed, without naming anyone in particular, that there had been “statements by some high-ranking representatives of leading NATO states about the possibility of using nuclear weapons of mass destruction against Russia. “ “To those who allow themselves such statements about Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction… And when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, in order to protect Russia and our people, we will definitely use all the means at our disposal,” Putin said. “It’s not a bluff.” The move prompted some Russians to try to buy plane tickets to leave the country. In Armenia, Sergey arrived with his 17-year-old son, saying that they had prepared for such a scenario. Another Russian, Valery, said his wife’s family lives in Kyiv and mobilization is out of the question for him “just for the moral aspect”. Both men declined to give their last names. Despite Russia’s harsh laws against criticizing the military and the war, protesters angered by the mobilization overcame their fear of arrest to hold demonstrations in cities across the country. Nearly 1,200 Russians were arrested in anti-war protests in cities including Moscow and St. Petersburg, according to the independent Russian human rights group OVD-Info. Associated Press reporters in Moscow witnessed at least a dozen arrests in the first 15 minutes of a nighttime demonstration in the capital, with heavily armored police confronting protesters in front of shops, turning some away as they chanted “No to war!” “I am not afraid of anything. The most valuable thing they can take from us is the life of our children. I will not give them my child’s life,” said one Muscovite, who declined to give her name. Asked if protesting would help, she said: “It won’t help, but it’s my civic duty to express my position. Not to war!” In Yekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth-largest city, police bussed some of the 40 protesters arrested at an anti-war rally. A woman in a wheelchair shouted, referring to the Russian president: “Oh my god you bald “boy”. The opposition Vesna movement called for protests, saying: “Thousands of Russian men – our fathers, brothers and husbands – will be thrown into the meat grinder of war. What will they die for? What will mothers and children cry for?” Moscow’s prosecutor’s office warned that organizing or participating in protests could lead to up to 15 years in prison. Authorities have issued similar warnings before other protests. Wednesday was the first nationwide anti-war demonstrations since the fighting began in late February. Putin announces partial military mobilization in Russia, threatens to use nuclear weapons 02:17
Partial mobilization
A full-scale mobilization would likely be unpopular in Russia and could further damage Putin’s position after Russia’s recent battlefield losses in Ukraine. “We are talking about partial conscription, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and mainly those who served in the armed forces have a certain military specialty and relevant experience,” Putin said. address. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the total number of reservists called up to fight would be 300,000, adding that only those with relevant combat and service experience would be mobilized. He said there are about 25 million people who meet that criteria, but only about 1% of them will be called. Shoigu also said 5,937 Russian soldiers have been killed in the conflict in Ukraine so far, a figure far below Western estimates that Russia has lost tens of thousands. “President Putin talked about how conditions have changed during the special military operation in his speech,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. “It was President Putin who said that, in fact, we are now facing the military might of NATO and a number of other countries that are not friendly to us.” Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a speech announcing a partial mobilization of Russian reserves during the Russia-Ukraine military conflict in this still image from video released September 21, 2022. Russian Presidential Press Service via Reuters In a statement Wednesday night, Foreign Secretary Anthony Blinken said Putin’s move “reflects the Kremlin’s struggles on the battlefield, the unpopularity of the war and the reluctance of Russians to fight in it. President Putin has not been in office since position of power Rather, this is another sign of his failed mission.’ British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace described Putin’s mobilization announcement as “an admission that his invasion is failing”. “He and his defense secretary have sent tens of thousands of their own citizens to their deaths, poorly equipped and poorly led,” Wallace said in a statement. “No amount of threats and propaganda can hide the fact that Ukraine is winning this war, the international community is united, and Russia is becoming a global pariah.” In another signal that Russia was digging for a protracted and possibly escalating conflict, the Kremlin-controlled lower house of parliament voted on Tuesday to tighten laws against desertion, surrender and looting by Russian troops. Lawmakers also voted to introduce possible 10-year prison sentences for soldiers who refuse to fight. If approved, as expected, by the upper house and then signed by Putin, the legislation would strengthen the hands of commanders against declining morale among soldiers.
Upcoming referendums
The partial mobilization order came a day after Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes to become integral parts of Russia – a move that could set the stage for an escalation of the post-Ukraine war. successes. Some of those successes have seen Russian forces pushed back from previously captured villages just a few miles from the Russian border, CBS News’ Debora Patta reports. “I think we have it completely under control… The enemy has completely retreated from this territory,” a Ukrainian unit commander in Kazacha Lopan – a Ukrainian territory captured by Russia on the first day of the war – told Patta. “Our goal is to not let the enemy come in here again,” Oplot said. In his nightly speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s commitment to recapture areas seized by Russian forces remained unchanged. “The situation on the front lines clearly shows that the initiative belongs to Ukraine,” he said. “Our positions are not changing because of the noise or any announcements somewhere. And we enjoy the full support of our partners in this.” The referendums, which have been expected since the first months of the war, will begin on Friday in the regions of Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhia and Donetsk. It is certain that they will go the way of Moscow. Foreign leaders have described the ballots as illegal and non-binding. Zelensky said it was a “parody” and “noise” to distract the public. “Fake referendums and mobilization are signs of weakness, Russian failure,” US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink tweeted. “The United States will never recognize Russia’s claim to allegedly annexed Ukrainian territory, and we will continue to stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary.” “After the referendums, protecting people in this region will not be our right, but our duty,” Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev wrote on Telegram. “An attack on people and territory will be an attack on Russia. With all the consequences,” he said.
“What will they die for?”
Even a partial mobilization of Russian forces is likely to increase Russian disillusionment with the war. The Russian opposition movement Vesna called for nationwide protests on Wednesday, saying “thousands of Russian men – our fathers, brothers and husbands – will be thrown into the meat grinder of war. What will they die for? What will mothers and children cry for?” for;” AFP reports that jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, in a video statement during a court appearance, said the partial mobilization “will lead to a huge tragedy, huge numbers of deaths… To keep personal power, Putin went to a neighboring country, killed people there, and now he’s sending a huge amount of Russian citizens into this war.” It was unclear how many would dare to protest amid Russia’s comprehensive crackdown on opposition and tough laws against discrediting soldiers and the military operation. Putin’s announcement came on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last February has been the target of widespread international criticism. The Russian leader did not attend in person. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to address the rally in a pre-recorded speech on Wednesday. Meanwhile, in the Russian-held town of Enerhodar, shelling continued around Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Ukrainian energy company Energoatom says Russian bombing has again damaged infrastructure…
