Vladimir Putin has warned Russia will 'use all means we have' to protect its territory, accusing the West of 'nuclear blackmail' and saying: "This is not a bluff."
The Russian President today announced a 'partial mobilisation' in Russia as the war in Ukraine approaches the seven-month mark - a move said to mean that as many as 300,000 reservists and people with past military experience are expected to be called up.
He also accused the West of engaging in 'nuclear blackmail' and noted 'statements of some high-ranking representatives of the leading Nato states about the possibility of using nuclear weapons of mass destruction against Russia'.
Putin 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."
Russia’s defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, later said 300,000 reservists will be mobilised. His address to the nation comes 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'.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a partial mobilisation in Russia is a 'worrying escalation', a Foreign Office minister has said. Gillian Keegan also urged for calm in the face of Mr Putin's threat in his speech to use nuclear weapons.
She told Sky News: "Some of the language there was quite concerning at the end and obviously we would urge for calm."
The Chichester MP also said: "It's something that we should take very seriously because, you know, we're not in control.
"I'm not sure he’s in control either really. I mean, this is obviously an escalation and, of course, for the Russian people now they will be conscripted into this war." She said discussions would continue to seek a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine war.
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. "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.”
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