Putin Announces ‘Partial Mobilization’ And Backs Referendums In Russian Occupied Territories

Topline

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared “partial mobilization” allowing for the conscription of military reservists, in a pre-recorded televised speech on Wednesday morning, indicating an escalation of the invasion of Ukraine as Russian existing forces on the ground deal with major setbacks.

Key Facts

Putin said he has signed a decree to start partial mobilization from Wednesday and it will only impact people who are currently part of the Russian military reserve or have previously served in the Armed Forces.

The Russian president threatened nuclear escalation once again saying that Russia is prepared to use all means at its disposal in case there is a threat to the country’s territorial integrity.

Putin also expressed support for referendums in Russian-occupied territories in eastern and southern Ukraine—dismissed by the West and Kyiv as shams—which would allow Moscow to claim larges portions of the neighboring as its own.

This is a developing story.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/09/21/putin-announces-partial-mobilization-and-backs-referendums-in-russian-occupied-territories/