Ukraine war: Russia calls up 300,000 reservists as Putin vows ‘all means’ for defence
- Vladimir Putin gives televised address as Russia moves to annex swathes of Ukraine
- President vowed to use ‘all available means’ to protect Russian territory and people
It was Russia’s first such mobilisation since World War II and signified the biggest escalation of the Ukraine war since Moscow’s February 24 invasion.
It followed mounting casualties and battlefield setbacks for Russian forces, who have been driven from areas they had captured in northeast Ukraine in a Ukrainian counteroffensive this month and are bogged down in the south.
In an address to the nation, 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”. Russia had “lots of weapons to reply”, he said.
Kyiv and its Western allies responded by saying the move showed Russia’s campaign in Ukraine was failing. The allies pledged further support for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government.
Russia’s defence minister said the partial mobilisation would see 300,000 reservists with previous military experience called up.
Although Russia has been involved in a number of conflicts since World War II, this was the first such call-up since then.