Russia’s Vladimir Putin announces ‘partial mobilisation’: What it means

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilisation” in Russia, activating about 300,000 reservists. The news came as the war in Ukraine is about to complete seven months and Russia loses ground on the battlefield.

In a separate warning issued to western nations backing Ukraine, Putin said Russia would use all the means at its disposal to protect its territory. “It is not a bluff”, the Russian President said in a televised address on Wednesday. He also accused the west of “nuclear blackmail.”

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Putin noted “statements of some high-ranking representatives of the leading NATO states about the possibility of using nuclear weapons of mass destruction against Russia”, news agency Associated Press reported.

“To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for separate components and more modern than those of NATO countries and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal,” Putin added.

What does “partial mobilisation” mean?

The partial mobilisation in Russia was sanctioned by the Russian President, who said a relevant decree had already been signed. It is due to start on Wednesday.

“We are talking about partial mobilisation, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and above all, those who served in the armed forces have a certain military specialty and relevant experience,” Putin said.

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Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a televised interview Wednesday that only those with relevant combat and service experience will be mobilised.

Putin said the decision to partially mobilise was “fully adequate to the threats we face, namely to protect our homeland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, to ensure the security of our people and people in the liberated territories.”