In response to Ukraine’s rapid recapture of vast swaths of territory in recent weeks, the Russian president has called up approximately 300,000 reserve troops. Mr. Putin also asserts that the West must take his threat to use nuclear weapons, which he claims have more contemporary components than those of NATO, seriously.
President Putin has accused the West of “nuclear blackmail” and said he has “enough weapons to respond” as he deploys an additional 300,000 soldiers to the Ukraine conflict.
In a rare address to the nation, he stated that he was not bluffing and that he would employ “all available means” if Russian territory was threatened.
Mr. Putin authorized a “partial mobilization” of military reserves, which, according to Russia’s defense minister, involved some 300,000 soldiers.
It implies that individuals with prior military experience will enlist unless they are too old or physically unfit.
The Kremlin website announced an order stating that they will receive further training before being sent into battle.
The Russian leader stated on Wednesday morning that the West is currently discussing nuclear blackmail.
He referenced allegations that Ukraine shelled the occupied nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia and stated that certain NATO representatives had raised the prospect of using nuclear weapons against Russia.
He warned them that his country “possesses a variety of destructive weapons, some of which are even more advanced than NATO’s.”
President Putin stated, “If there is a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and the protection of our people, we will employ all available means, and I am not bluffing.”
In addition, he authorized referendums in four occupied Ukrainian districts.
Tuesday, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia declared their preparations.
They are planned to occur from September 23 through September 27. Collectively, the regions constitute around 15% of Ukrainian territory.
The foreign minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, has rejected the plans, stating: “The Russians have complete freedom of action. It will have no effect whatsoever.”
The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense stated that the referendums were likely motivated by “fears of an imminent Ukrainian attack and an expectation of greater protection after formally joining Russia.”
In recent weeks, Ukraine has reclaimed huge portions of land, prompting Mr. Putin’s statement.
Reserve activation is an “admission of failure”
Ben Wallace, the defense secretary of the United Kingdom, stated that the president’s call-up of reserves was a breach of one of his commitments and an “admission that his invasion is failing.”
He stated in a tweet that the president has “sent tens of thousands” of Russians to their deaths and that “no amount of threats or propaganda can mask the truth that Ukraine is winning this war.”
Today, Russia’s defense minister Sergei Shoigu announced that 5,937 soldiers have been killed in the conflict, marking only the second time the government has provided such an update.
This is far less than the more than 40,000 estimated by Ukraine and the 15,000 estimated by the UK and US in July.
In his speech, President Putin referred to Ukrainian soldiers as “neo-Nazis” and accused them of committing “terrorist activities.”
Foreign Office minister Gillian Keegan stated that Mr. Putin’s nuclear threat should be taken “extremely seriously.”
She stated, “This is certainly an escalation.”
The mobilization of reservists and the referendums, according to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, is “a show of panic” from Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Rutte continued, “His rhetoric on nuclear weapons is something we’ve heard before, and it leaves us cold.”
“This is all standard rhetorical practice. I would recommend remaining calm.”
