Ukraine war live: Putin announces ‘partial mobilisation’ of Russia and threatens nuclear retaliation saying ‘I’m not bluffing’

Russian president Vladimir Putin announces ‘partial mobilisation’ of Russia

Vladimir Putin has given a national address in which he has announced the partial mobilisation of forces in Russia. He said that the army was facing the military operations of the collective west on a frontline of over 1,000km in Ukraine. Those in the military reserves would be called up.

Putin also said Russia would give its full support to the referendums announced for this weekend in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to join the Russian Federation. He accused the west of starting a war against Russia in Ukraine in 2014.

“In its aggressive anti-Russian policy the west has crossed all lines,” the Russian president said. He accused the west of planning to destroy Russia and use nuclear blackmail.

Putin said he would use “all means available to us” and that those who are trying to use nuclear blackmail against Russia will find the tables can be turned against them. He explicitly said “I’m not bluffing.”

Key events

Finland’s defence minister, Antti Kaikkonen said, has said the country is closely monitoring the situation in neighbouring Russia.

“Regarding Finland’s surroundings, I can say that the military situation is stable and calm,” Reuters reports Kaikkonen said, adding “Our defence forces are well prepared and the situation is closely monitored.”

Earlier this year Finland applied to join the Nato alliance.

Russian proxy authority says occupied areas of Mykolaiv region to be incorporated into Kherson before referendum – reports

The Russian-installed administration of southern Ukraine’s Kherson province said parts of the neighbouring Mykolaiv region that are under the control of Russian forces would be incorporated into Kherson province, Russia’s Tass news agency reported.

Reuters notes the decision would mean the incorporated region also voting in the proposed referendum this weekend on being annexed by Russia.

Russian defence minister: losses in Ukraine amount to 5,937 people

The Tass news agency is reporting in Russia that defence minister Sergei Shoigu has said on the Russia-24 TV channel that Russia has officially lost nearly 6,000 people during its so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine, which began on 24 February. It quotes him saying:

I can’t help but say that we haven’t talked about this for a long time: about our losses. Our losses in the special operation amounted to 5,937 people.

He also claimed that 90% of those injured during the invasion had been able to return to duty thanks to the work of doctors.

The figure of 5,937 people is in stark contrast to the figure claimed by the general staff of the armed forces of Ukraine. In its daily operation briefing today it claimed to have killed 300 enemy combatants in the last 24 hours alone, taking the total figure of people it says it has killed to 55,100.

Neither figure has been independently confirmed. The figure given by the Ukrainian side is likely to be an estimate, and may include volunteers and forces of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic, which Russia is unlikely to include in its official military losses data.

From our China desk:

Within minutes of Putin’s statement, thousands of comments poured into China’s Twitter-like platform, Weibo and became the secon-highest trending topic.

China’s response to the invasion has been in stark contrast to that of the west. The two countries’ leaders have declared an unlimited partnership, and while not explicit, China’s support for Russia appears to be growing. Information control and a rising sense of nationalism and anti-western sentiment has also fostered domestic Chinese support for Putin’s actions.

Among the comments on Tuesday, many were amazed by Putin’s determination to go “all in” for the war, and supported his decision. Others said American hegemony must come to an end and this was a perfect opportunity. Some suggested that if Russia lost this war, China would be left alone as the next target to be singled out by the west.

“The situation doesn’t look optimistic, foreign affairs don’t matter, the key is that if Russia has fallen, and the west will only be left with China to deal with, then our life will definitely be more difficult by then,” said one.

“From our country’s standpoint, we need a Russia that is not strong but not down!” said another, suggesting some unease with a potential power struggle between Russia and China.

Only a few comments viewed by the Guardian empathised with the Ukrainian side and hoped that the war wouldn’t escalate to another level. A short time later replies to those comments were no longer visible.

Maria Avdeeva, who describes herself on social media as a “disinformation and security expert fighting for Ukraine”, is another person who has appeared in the media in the UK this morning following the moves to hold referendums in eastern Ukraine and Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a partial mobilisation in Russia. She told viewers of Sky News that the results of the votes would be faked. She said:

Well, Ukraine has announced that this is illegal for every resident, they are Ukrainian citizens, to take part in the referendum.

There is no doubt that this will be staged, the results are already faked, and Russia will announce that like 90% of the population there voted in favour of joining Russia, because they don’t even make poll stations, they already have said that people will be able to vote from home.

This is clearly just a fake referendum to give grounds, to so-called legitimise the occupation and put these territories into the sphere of legal influence of Russia. To put the laws of the Russia in charge of the territories that are temporarily occupied, and make these people obligatory fighting for Russia, or voting in favour of Russian decisions, and to do what they have already done in Crimea.

Helen Davidson

Helen Davidson reports for us from Taipei on Chinese reaction to this morning’s announcement by Vladimir Putin:

China’s ministry of foreign affairs has been asked about Putin’s declaration at its daily press conference today. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters China’s position on the Ukraine issue “has always been clear”.

“We have always maintained that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN charter should be observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of crises should be supported.”

China’s stance on Russia’s invasion has not been clear, and has been of key concern to the west and security analysts. Since it began Beijing has refused to condemn the invasion, while also presenting itself as a peacemaker. Cybermonitoring groups have found China actors assisted with the spread of Russian disinformation and propaganda, and there were major concerns that China would supply weapons. It has not, but has helped with drone parts and other supplies, and bought a lot of the gas that Europe won’t.

Some officials have recently been quite supportive of Russia. Li Zhanshu, China’s third highest ranking official, recently told Russian lawmakers that China fully understood and supported Russia’s core interests and concerns, and that Russia “took the action that should be taken”.

Back in February, weeks before the attack, Xi Jinping and Putin announced a limitless partnership. Last week, on the sidelines of a multilateral summit in Uzbekistan, Putin told Xi that Russia understood China had “questions and concerns” about the Ukraine war, and he would answer them.

Lithuania’s defence minister Arvydas Anušauskas has said the country is to put its rapid reaction force on high alert. He tweeted to say:

As Russia’s military mobilisation will also take place near our borders, (Kaliningrad region), Lithuania’s rapid reaction force is being put on high alert to prevent any provocation from Russia.

As Russia’s military mobilisation will also take place near our borders, (Kaliningrad region), Lithuania’s Rapid Reaction Force is being put on high alert to prevent any provocation from Russia.

— Arvydas Anušauskas (@a_anusauskas) September 21, 2022

The Russian exclave of Kaliningrad sites between Lithuania and Poland on the Baltic coastline.

The location of Kaliningrad.

Reuters reports that European Union member Latvia, which borders Russia, has said it will not offer refuge to any Russians fleeing Moscow’s mobilisation of troops. Latvian foreign minister Edgars Rinkēvičs made the announcement in a tweet on Wednesday, citing security concerns.

Over the last few weeks, my colleagues Laurence Topham and Luke Harding have produced a three-part video series looking specifically at Vladimir Putin’s life and motivations.

Part one examined Putin’s unlikely path to the Russian presidency – from KGB agent to Kremlin operator – and part two looked at the rise of a “mafia state” under his leadership.

Both of those are well worth a watch, but today in particular if you haven’t seen it you might want to dip into part three. That specifically examined why Putin has been so obsessed with Ukraine, and it chronicles the key historical events that led to the invasion, from the Euromaidan protests to the annexation of Crimea, and Putin’s belief that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people”.

Why is Vladimir Putin so obsessed with Ukraine?

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, has posted to Telegram his response to Vladimir Putin’s words this morning. He writes:

The mobilisation and nuclear threats announced by Putin will not help the aggressor in his quest to conquer and destroy Ukraine and Ukrainians. The tyrant finally launched the processes that will bury him in his country. And the civilised world must finally understand that evil must be eradicated from the roots, and not talk about some illusory “peace negotiations”.

The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, has added his voice to the chorus of western leaders commenting on Vladimir Putin’s earlier announcement of partial mobilisations and threats over nuclear weapons. Reuters reports Rutte told Dutch broadcaster NOS:

The mobilisation, calling for referenda in the Donetsk, it is all a sign of panic. His rhetoric on nuclear weapons is something we have heard many times before, and it leaves us cold. It is all part of the rhetoric we know. I would advise to remain calm.

Bridget Brink, the US ambassador to Ukraine, said Russia has shown weakness by announcing a mobilisation of its military reserves and setting out referenda in Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine, Reuters reports.

“Sham referenda and mobilisation are signs of weakness, of Russian failure,” Brink said on Twitter. “The United States will never recognise Russia’s claim to purportedly annexed Ukrainian territory.”

The proxy Russian authority of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in occupied eastern Ukraine has claimed that overnight seven civilians were injured on territory that it occupies by shelling from Ukrainian forces. The claims have not been independently verified.





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