Vladimir Putin today warned global leaders that he was not kidding when he threatened to deploy nuclear weapons on the West over Ukraine.
In addition to announcing the partial mobilisation of his military reserves and referendums in seized regions of Ukraine to annex them to Russia, the desperate dictator delivered a speech to the Russian people.
“If there is a danger to the territorial integrity of our nation, and in safeguarding our people, we will without a doubt employ all measures to us,” Putin said. “And I’m not bluffing.”
Those attempting to use nuclear weapons as a kind of blackmail should be aware that things may go the other way.
His action puts Putin at odds with Kyiv and its Western supporters, who have already said that they would continue to support efforts to free regions under Russian rule and that the outcomes of any “fake” referendums won’t be accepted.
The Kremlin said that conscripts and students will not be included among the 300,000 individuals who would reportedly be forced into the army as a result of the mobilisation.
According to Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defence minister, only individuals with combat and service experience will be called up for duty, which will begin today.
Putin has so far refrained from announcing any kind of mobilisation, ostensibly out of concern for the reaction of regular Russians who could have been backing his “special military operation” simply because they had nothing to lose.
But following another humiliating military setback near Kharkiv last week, which prompted demands for his resignation, the Russian leader abruptly shifted course under to pressure from friends, propagandists, and hardliners inside his own country.
In a bind and maybe facing the demise of his alleged “special military operation,” Putin chose to ratchet things up and threaten the free world.
The 13-hour overnight delay in his address led to fanciful speculation about a Kremlin takeover.
But Putin ultimately made his announcement in the wee hours of Wednesday, looking very much alive and in power.
The speech reflected Kremlin rhetoric throughout the conflict.
In it, Putin made an effort to rewrite history by portraying the West and NATO as the aggressors, despite the fact that he had just seven months earlier ordered an invasion of Ukraine.
Despite ample proof of civilian deaths, torture, indiscriminate shelling, and other crimes committed by his soldiers, Putin claimed that Russia was forced to start a “pre-emptive war” to “defend” the people of Ukraine.
He emphasised that the complete liberation of the Donbass area and its residents, who he said had been turned into “hostages of the Kyiv dictatorship,” remained Moscow’s goal.
He said that conscription of Russia’s military reserves and veterans into the army will begin today in order to guarantee victory.
There will also be referendums in Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and other Russian-occupied areas that make up the Donbas.
There will be plenty potential for intimidation since voting will start this week and continue into the next week with police and local authorities visiting door to door to ensure people vote.
Additionally, polling places will be established inside of Russia itself, purportedly to provide those who have already departed those areas a chance to vote, but it is likely that these booths would be loaded with forged votes.
Unsurprisingly, preliminary “polling” published by Russian official media last night revealed that more than 80% of residents in the four areas desire to join Russia.
Over 90% was reportedly the percentage in Donetsk and Luhansk.
Putin said, “Our nation also has a variety of defensive tools at its disposal, some of which are more sophisticated than those used by NATO members.
We will use all available measures to protect Russia and our people if our nation’s territorial integrity is challenged; this is not a bluff.
Russian people may be certain that we will use every available tool to protect the territorial integrity of our country, our independence, and our freedom.
“Those who are seeking to use nuclear weapons as a kind of blackmail should be aware that the winds may be blowing in their way.”
This is not a bluff, he said.
According to him, he was acting in response to threats made by unspecified senior NATO officials “regarding the potential use of weapons of mass devastation, including nuclear weapons, against Russia.”
Putin made it plain that when he refers to “Russian land,” he means the occupied portions of Ukraine where he would soon organise phoney elections to decide whether or not to join the Kremlin’s empire.
He delivered a pre-recorded statement to Russians that said, “I think it essential to take the following choice.”
To safeguard our Motherland, its sovereignty, and territorial integrity, it is wholly sufficient to the degree of dangers we are facing.
“To safeguard the protection of both our people and the inhabitants of the freed lands.”
“I believe it is vital to support the General Staff and Ministry of Defence’s proposal to declare a partial mobilisation in Russia.”
I will say it again: We are discussing partial mobilisation.
Therefore, only those who are already serving in the reserves would be summoned to active duty.
“First and foremost, it would be people who have served in the military and have necessary expertise and military specialties.
“Military training is required for those summoned to the army.”
Only those who are presently serving in the reserve, and especially those who have served in the armed forces, have particular military occupations, and have the necessary expertise, according to Putin.
Before being sent to their units, those recruited into the military will get extra military training that takes into consideration their prior involvement in special military operations.
Putin’s words at the UN last night were anticipated by Western leaders, who said they would not accept the outcomes of any “fake” referendums in Ukraine.
“The Russians are free to do as they choose.” As global leaders arrived for the United Nations General Assembly gathering on Tuesday, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba remarked, “It won’t alter anything.
Later, he emphasised the subject once again in a tweet that read: “Sham’referendums’ will not alter anything.” Any hybrid “mobilisation” won’t either.
“Russia has been and is still occupying Ukrainian territory unlawfully.” Whatever Russia says, Ukraine has every right to free its regions, and it will continue to do so.
According to French President Emmanuel Macron, the referendum idea “would be comical if it weren’t so awful.”
He warned that inactivity ran the danger of “tearing down the world order without which peace is not conceivable” and characterised Russia’s incursion as “a return to a new period of imperialism and colonies.”
It is not necessary to choose a side between the North or the South, or between East and West. According to him, it is a question of obligation to the UN Charter.
Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of Germany, remarked that after years of optimism after the end of the Cold War and the reunification of his own country, the globe was “facing a new fragmentation.”
After years of optimism after the end of the Cold War and the reunification of his own country, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the globe was “facing a new fragmentation.”
Putin, who invaded Ukraine in February, would “only give up his war and his imperialist goals if he understands he cannot win,” according to Scholz.
For the defence of the lives and freedom of the Ukrainian people as well as the defence of our international system, he said, “We stand strongly behind those who are under assault.”
And Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned the gathering that the invasion by Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, threatened the legitimacy of the U.N.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, according to Kishida, “tramples the philosophy and values of the U.N. charter” and “should never be permitted.”
Zelenskyy said in his evening speech that there are many unanswered concerns about the announcements but emphasised that this would not alter Ukraine’s determination to reclaim territory held by Russian soldiers.
According to him, “The situation on the front lines plainly shows that the initiative belongs to Ukraine.” “Our stances don’t alter as a result of noise or pronouncements made elsewhere. And our partners are fully behind us in this.
According to Zelensky, “I applaud all allies and partners of Ukraine for today’s widespread and forceful denunciation of Russia’s plans to arrange additional fake referenda.”
The Kremlin-controlled lower house of parliament voted on Tuesday to toughen regulations against Russian military deserting, surrendering, and looting, sending another message that the country is bracing for a lengthy and intensified fight.
Additionally, lawmakers approved the introduction of potential 10-year jail sentences for troops who refuse to battle.
The proposal would give commanders more power to combat reports of low troop morale if the upper chamber approves it as anticipated and Putin signs it into law.
The biggest nuclear power station in Europe continues to be shelled near the city of Enerhodar, which is under Russian control.
Russian shelling at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station once again caused structural damage, according to Ukrainian energy operator Energoatom, and momentarily required employees to fire up two diesel generators for backup power to reactor cooling pumps.
Even though the plant’s six reactors have all been shut down, such pumps are crucial for preventing a meltdown. The generators were reportedly turned off later when main power was restored, according to Energoatom.
Months of worry have been directed at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant because to worries that shelling may produce a radioactive release. The shelling is being blamed on by both Russia and Ukraine.