- Monday, March 10, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Russian president Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (21) announced a partial mobilisation of the military in Russia after facing major setbacks in Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a televised speech, the 69-year-old leader said, “Only citizens who are currently in the reserve and, above all, those who served in the Armed Forces, have certain military specialties and relevant experience, will be subject to conscription.”
He also said that the decree for partial mobilisation was signed.
Putin also issued a stern warning to the western nations that have given aid to Ukraine in its defence.
“West is calling to weaken, divide and destroy Russia. West has crossed the line,” he said.
‼️Partial mobilization has been announced in Rus, the decree has been signed.
Putin stated this in his address:
“Only citizens who are currently in the reserve,those who served in the Armed Forces, have certain military specialties and relevant experience, will be subject pic.twitter.com/l7rL5FJf9H
— Eli Zifferblatt (@elizifferblatt) September 21, 2022
The president also said that Russia had “lots of weapons to reply” to “Western threats”, adding that he was not bluffing.
“If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we use all available means to protect our people – this is not a bluff,” Putin said, making experts believe that he is giving a nuclear threat.
Putin’s address to the people of Russia came a day after parts of eastern and southern Ukraine that are controlled by separatists announced plans to conduct referendums on becoming part of Russia.
On the idea of holding referendums, Putin said he aimed to “liberate” east Ukraine’s Donbas region and that most people living in areas under Russian control did not want Kyiv to rule them.
Meanwhile, Putin’s Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky said in a nightly address on Tuesday (20) that there were doubts around the upcoming votes in Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions and emphasised that the Russian initiative would not change his country’s commitment to retake areas that have been occupied by Russian forces.
“The situation on the front line clearly indicates that the initiative belongs to Ukraine,” he said. “Our positions do not change because of the noise or any announcements somewhere. And we enjoy the full support of our partners in this,” he said.
