Source, Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared partial mobilization.
Explaining that they had to take this decision urgently to ensure the security of the lands they occupied in Ukraine, Putin stated that the decision will be valid from Wednesday.
Thus, the reserve units of the army will be called to duty.
Russians participating in the mobilization will have the status of soldiers.
According to Reuters, Putin said that they will also give legal status to volunteer fighters in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Addressing the nation on television, Putin also said, “The West does not want peace between Ukraine and Russia”; He emphasized that Western countries are blackmailing Russia, but that they have the power to defend the Russian people.
Putin repeated his claim that neo-Nazis rule Ukraine and said that people living in the areas occupied by Russia in Ukraine do not want to be ruled by neo-Nazis.
Referring to the demand for a “referendum to join Russia” from these regions, Putin said, “We support these people” and added:
“If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will use all the means at our disposal. This is not a bluff.
“The integrity, independence and freedom of our homeland, I repeat, will be defended by all means at our disposal.
“Those who blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the tide may turn.”
‘new sanction’ decision from the European Union
Following Putin’s statements on mobilization and the use of nuclear weapons, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries in New York met for the United Nations General Assembly. Ministers announced that they will continue to support Ukraine.
Following these statements, the European Union (EU) decided to expand the sanctions against Russia. After the emergency meeting of the EU foreign ministers in New York, EU Foreign Policy Commissioner Josep Borrell announced that the Union has decided to impose new sanctions against Russia. Accordingly, the EU will work on options and new sanctions will be imposed on Russian citizens and some sectors, and an official meeting and decision will be taken for implementation. Borrell also stated that arms support to Ukraine will continue.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also stated that he believes that the world will not allow Putin to use nuclear weapons, and argued that we should not be afraid of his threats, otherwise Russia will try to take more land.
Zelenskiy evaluated Putin’s statements as an indication that he wanted to shed blood on both Ukraine and his own soldiers.
Source, Getty Images
Hundreds of people were detained in anti-war demonstrations
After Putin’s statement, anti-war demonstrations were held in Russia, and many people were detained.
According to the monitoring group OVD-Info, which tracks political detentions and arrests in Russia, at least a thousand people have been detained, primarily in St Petersburg and Moscow.
The prosecutor’s office in Moscow warned that “calling and participating in illegal protests” could be punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
B: Putin uses nuclear threat against Europe
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, US President Joe Biden, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, criticized Russia’s invasion of its neighbor Ukraine, saying that Moscow “shamelessly violated” the basic principles of the UN convention.
“Putin claims he took action because Russia was under threat, but no one threatened him, and no one except Russia wanted conflict,” Biden said.
Biden argued that Putin was using the nuclear threat against Europe and that the Kremlin wanted to annex Ukrainian territory, adding that “Russia’s war is aimed at ending Ukraine’s right to exist as a state – it’s that simple.”
Saying that no country can use energy as a weapon, Biden urged all countries to refocus on non-proliferation.
“A nuclear war cannot be won and should never be waged,” Biden said.
Russian arms company will increase production
Russia’s largest arms manufacturer, Rostec, announced that it will increase its weapons production after Putin’s statement that reservists would be sent a call for duty.
According to the Rus official news agency Tass, the company has announced that it will apply overtime to its employees.
Rostec also announced that they were tasked with supplying modern weapons to the Russian army.
According to UK government data, the company employs two million people.
EU: Putin is taking a dangerous nuclear gamble
The European Union (EU) accused Putin of taking a “very dangerous nuclear gamble”.
European Commission Spokesman Peter Stano said the announcement of military mobilization, as well as the planned referendums to join Russia in four regions of Ukraine, showed that Putin had “no interest in peace”.
Stano also viewed these steps as signs of Russia’s “desperation” regarding the course of the war in Ukraine.
EU Council President Charles Michel, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly meeting, also wrote on his social media account, “The EU’s determined support for Ukraine will continue.”
German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz also condemned Putin’s latest move on mobilization and described it as an “act of desperation”.
Answering the questions of journalists in New York, Scholz used the term “fake” for the referendums planned to be held in the territory of Ukraine under Russian occupation and in which to vote to join Russia.
In the statement made by the British Prime Minister’s Office, the decision to mobilize Russia’s reserve soldiers was “open admission” that the invasion of Ukraine had failed.
Russian stock market decline
After Putin, a pre-recorded interview with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was broadcast on television.
Şoygu said that with “partial mobilization”, 300,000 people will be called up for military service.
Shoigu added that they will never ask students or those who do their compulsory military service to go to the front in any way.
The BBC’s correspondent in Moscow, Will Vernon, says this statement worries the Russians.
According to Vernon, many Russians, especially young professionals, will try to leave the country as soon as possible.
Vernon states that after the decision, the Russian stock market fell sharply, and there was an increase in international flight ticket sales.