Putin ups the ante: Russian President calls in 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine

Putin attempts to bolster his
Putin says he is
Putin:
A hardened stance but no talk of war...yet
Continued justification for invading Ukraine
Threats from the West
Civilians will be called on to fight in Ukraine
300,000 people will be called up
A small fraction of Russian resources
A sign of defeat?
Internal turmoil in Russia
Referendums in the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine
Putin wants to free citizens from the
Trying to free occupied Ukrainian territories would be an attack on Russia
Peace is further away
Calls to lower the level of the conflict have had no effect
Despair?
Ukraine advances
Russian society will suffer
No backing down
Putin attempts to bolster his "special military operation"

In a speech on September 21, President Putin announced that Russian reservists will be conscripted into the country's armed forces, in an attempt to bolster his flailing military campaign in Ukraine.

 

 

 

Putin says he is "protecting the Motherland."

In his speech Putin said the decision is to help "protect our Motherland and our territorial integrity."

Putin: "the West is trying to tear apart and destroy Russia"

The Russian President justified this extraordinary step by blaming the hostilities in Ukraine. Mr Putin said the West “is trying to tear apart and destroy Russia” and is pushing Kyiv to “move the hostilities to Russian territory”.

A hardened stance but no talk of war...yet

Putin has hardened his stance, as requested by  Kremlin advisers, but he did not utter the word "war" in his speech. Officially, a "special military operation" is still in force in Ukraine.

 

 

Continued justification for invading Ukraine

Mr. Putin once again justified his choice to invade Ukraine in the speech saying it was “the only possible solution” to security threats Russia faced.

Threats from the West

The Telegraph reported that Putin claimed that the West is threatening Russia with nuclear weapons. However, Mr. Putin said there is no need to worry,  “Russian citizens can be sure that our independence and freedom will be secure”.

Civilians will be called on to fight in Ukraine

So far Putin has avoided making a general mobilization, nonetheless, partial mobilization means a lot of Russian civilians will be called upon to fight in Ukraine.

300,000 people will be called up

The Russia's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, announced shortly after the speech that 300,000 people will be conscripted into the armed forces to take part in the ongoing fighting in Ukraine.

 

 

 

A small fraction of Russian resources

The BBC reported Mr. Shoigu assured the public that 300,000 only represent a small fraction of Russia's available resources. He also added that students, and those who had already served conscripts would not be called upon to serve.

 

A sign of defeat?

Many including the UK's Defense Secretary Ben Wallace believe that Putin's decision to mobilize military reservists is a clear sign that Russia is losing the war in Ukraine. Mr. Wallace said in a tweet, "No amount of threats and propaganda can hide the fact that Ukraine is winning this war, the international community are united and Russia is becoming a global pariah."

Internal turmoil in Russia

Putin's speech and his call for partial mobilization respond to internal turmoil after recent Russian defeats, in which the country has lost ground in Ukraine. There is a faction that wants Putin to declare war and mobilize the entire young population yet others seem to think it is time for Russia to pull out of Ukraine.

Referendums in the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine

In addition, according to media such as The New York Times, Putin said Russia gives its full support to the referendums announced for the weekend of September 24/25  in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to join the Russian Federation.

 

Putin wants to free citizens from the "neo-Nazis"

The BBC reported that Putin claims that the civilians living in areas of Ukraine under Russian control do not want to be "under the yoke of neo-Nazis".

Trying to free occupied Ukrainian territories would be an attack on Russia

Should Russia, through these highly questionable referendums, officially annex these occupied areas, any attack would be a direct attack on Russia. Which could eventually lead to a declaration of war in the name of "self-defense".

Peace is further away

Be that as it may, Putin's commitment to increase the military presence in Ukraine means the conflict won't be ending any time soon. Peace is further away.

Calls to lower the level of the conflict have had no effect

As much as the leaders from China, India or Turkey (Putin's allies) have made calls these days to lower the level of the conflict and reach agreements, Putin has not listened.

Despair?

According to The New York Times, these latest moves by Putin have been described as sheer "desperation" by the Ukrainian authorities.

Ukraine advances

Ukrainian forces have regained ground in a surprising offensive. Something that has provoked unprecedented internal criticism. Even on Russian television there have been those who have spoken of obvious military "mistakes".

Russian society will suffer

The mobilization of reservists means that Russian society will feel the effects of the war directly in their homes, with forced recruitment of loved ones. Until now, people only went to Ukraine on a voluntary basis.

No backing down

The summary of Putin's speech is simple: Russia doesn't plan on backing down in the Ukraine  and Putin refuses be intimidated by the West.

 

 

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