In a televised speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin announces a “partial military mobilization”. Putin gave the speech at around 08:00 Norwegian time. The president said, among other things, that Russia’s goal is to “liberate” the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, and that the West is trying to “destroy” Russia. Russia will use “all available means,” Putin said. – When the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will use all available means to protect Russia and our people. – This is not a hoax, Putin said. Will draw from the reserve forces Putin said in the speech that they will draw soldiers from the reserve forces. That is, those who have completed initial service or have experience as contract soldiers. Those who are now brought in for service will receive training, Putin said. Russian Defense Minister Sergej Shoigu said in a TV interview after Putin’s speech that there are 300,000 reservists who should be called up now. The Minister of Defense said that students or current conscripts will not be called up. The Russian president said that “necessary legislation” on this will be presented to the Russian National Assembly today. Work on calling up reservists starts today, the Russian president said. Those who are now called up will receive the same social guarantees as the others serving today, Putin said. Putin announced that the government had to provide financing for the production of more weapons and military equipment. Read also: Uproar about referendums in Ukraine: – Horrific Vladimir Putin together with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. This picture is from an event on 15 August. Photo: AP Have announced referendums On Tuesday, the separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as occupied areas in Kherson and Zaporizhzhya, claimed that they will hold referendums on 23-27. September to join Russia. An announcement from the Russian president was already expected on Tuesday. Many then speculated whether mobilization could be relevant. Later on Tuesday evening, it was reported that Putin would not be speaking until Wednesday. Russian soldiers near the city of Mariupol on March 24. Photo: ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO / Reuters Professor: It is not a given that this will solve Russia’s problems – It is not a given that this will solve Russia’s problems in Ukraine, says Sven Holtsmark, who is a professor at the Department of Defense Studies and the Norwegian Defense Academy to news. – We have seen that Russia is not only struggling with a lack of personnel, but also a lack of equipment. There must be a balance between these two, says Holtsmark. Sven Holtsmark is a professor at the Department of Defense Studies and the Norwegian Armed Forces College. Photo: Jon P. Petrusson – If the increase in personnel cannot be followed up with a corresponding increase in equipment, it is by no means a given that this mobilization will have any significance at all. Holtsmark calls what is happening now a “sign of desperation”. – This is clearly a sign of the great desperation in Russia. This war was launched as a so-called “special military operation”. It is an expression that in itself means nothing, but it gives the impression of not being a war, of being something limited and small. That rhetoric will now have to change, says Holtsmark. The Russian president addressed the nation after Russian-backed separatists announced referendums on incorporating occupied Ukrainian territories into Russia.
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Putin warns of “partial military mobilization” – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
