Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday summoned its first military mobilization against Ukraine since World War Two. It warned the West of response with the might of all its vast arsenal if it continued its “nuclear blackmail”. He said he is not bluffing on using ‘nuclear weapons’ to defend Russia as he prepares to capture portions of Ukraine.
In a televised address to the nation, his first address to the nation since Ukraine’s invasion, Putin said, “If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will use all available means to protect our people – this is not a bluff,” emphasising Russia had “lots of weapons to reply”.
The military mobilization signifies a major escalation of the war, running in its seventh month. According to Russia’s defence minister, the partial mobilization will contain 300,000 reservists called up with prior military experience. The mobilization has been called for after the Ukrainian counter-offensive took some captured territory back from the Russian forces.
Advisor to Ukraine President, Mykhailo Podolyak said that Russia’s mobilisation was predictable which would prove extremely unpopular and underscored that the war was not going according to Moscow’s plan. Putin defended his actions by claiming that the partial military mobilization was a step to defend Russia and its territories. He argued that the West did not want peace in Ukraine.
Putin defends his actions with blame game
He blamed Washington, London, Brussels for provoking Ukraine to “transfer military operations to our territory” with the aim of the “complete plunder of our country”. Ukraine’s military has attacked targets inside Russia during the war by using long-range weapons supplied by the West.
Continuing his rage against the West, Putin said, “Nuclear blackmail has also been used,” referring to Ukraine’s Zaporozhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe. Both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other of endangering the plant in the fighting.
Including NATO in his blame game, he accused its higher officials of leading the nations of the military alliance to make statements about “the possibility and admissibility of using weapons of mass destruction against Russia – nuclear weapons”.
Targeting all his adversaries at once, Putin said in his statement, “To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and in some components more modern than those of the NATO countries”.
After making gradual gains after months of fierce combat, Russia now controls roughly 60% of Donetsk and virtually all of Luhansk by the end of July.
These accomplishments are now under jeopardy as a result of Russian forces’ expulsion from the nearby province of Kharkiv this month, which resulted in the loss of their key supply routes for a large portion of the frontlines in Donetsk and Luhansk.
World leaders condemn Russia’s actions
To what is Putin’s biggest threat since the war, members of United Nations, of which Russia is a permanent member, have condemned its actions and volunteered to help Ukraine. In an effort to persuade friends to steadfastly support the Ukrainian resistance, President Joe Biden is prepared to argue to world leaders at the UN General Assembly that Russia’s “naked aggression” in Ukraine is in violation of the core principles of the organisation.
In the 77th UN Summit, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, “Russia will attempt to destroy Ukraine – and change its borders.” Latvia, a European Union member which borders Russia, showed its resistance in offering refuge to Russians fleeing the mobilisation.
European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said in a statement, “Vladimir Putin is making a very dangerous nuclear gamble in Ukraine”.
