Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West that he will use all means at his disposal to protect his territory.
The warning comes after the announced the partial mobilisation in Russia as the war in Ukraine approaches the seven-month mark. Addressing the nation, Mr Putin said he isn't "bluffing" and will use "various means of destruction" against the West.
He said: "It's not a bluff" and accused the West in engaging in "nuclear blackmail", he said: "Statements of some high-ranking representatives of the leading Nato states about the possibility of using nuclear weapons of mass destruction against Russia."
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He then added: "To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for separate components and more modern than those of Nato countries, and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal."
The claims come a day after Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes on becoming integral parts of Russia. The Kremlin-backed efforts to swallow up four regions could set the stage for Moscow to escalate the war following recent Ukrainian successes on the battlefield.
The referendums will start on Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk areas. Mr Putin said he has signed a decree on the partial mobilisation, which is due to start on Wednesday.
He said: "We are talking about partial mobilisation, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and above all, those who served in the armed forces have a certain military specialty and relevant experience."
The Russian leader said the decision to partially mobilise was "fully adequate to the threats we face, namely to protect our homeland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, to ensure the security of our people and people in the liberated territories."
Earlier on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Russian plans to stage the referendums as "noise", and thanked Ukraine's allies for condemning the votes scheduled to start Friday. Former President Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's Security Council chaired by Mr Putin, said referendums that fold regions into Russia itself would make redrawn frontiers "irreversible" and enable Moscow to use "any means" to defend them.
In his nightly address, Mr Zelensky said there were lots of questions surrounding the announcements but stressed that they would not change Ukraine's commitment to retake areas occupied by Russian forces. He said: "The situation on the front line clearly indicates that the initiative belongs to Ukraine.
"Our positions do not change because of the noise or any announcements somewhere. And we enjoy the full support of our partners in this."
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