Direct Ukraine-Russia War, last minute
Conflict Putin announces sending 300,000 reservists to war and threatens the West with nuclear weapons
War Ukraine's allies describe the referendum as a "farce" and open themselves to the possibility of imposing more sanctions
The President of Russia,
Vladimir Putin
, announced this Wednesday a partial mobilization to, as he stated, "protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the country, as well as to
guarantee the security
of the citizens of the occupied Ukrainian territories.
These are the main aspects of the measure decreed by the head of the Kremlin:
The Russian Army has
more than two million men
, half of whom are technical and administrative personnel.
During the partial mobilization,
300,000 reservists will be called up
.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu estimated that 25 million Russians with military experience could be mobilized.
Partial mobilization will affect 1% of the total.
Among those mobilized there will be specialists who work in state-owned companies.
Russia rules out that students over 18 years of age can be mobilized, referring to university students and those who are studying vocational training.
The reservists
could be legally deployed in
Donbas
and the occupied territories in southern Ukraine if the Kremlin accepts their entry into Russia after the integration referendums that those territories will hold starting Friday.
The Duma (or Lower House) approved this Tuesday amendments to the penal code that toughen
prison sentences
for soldiers for surrender and desertion without justification in case of mobilization or martial law up to 10 years.
Failure to comply with direct orders from a superior to engage in combat or military action can also be punished with up to ten years in prison.
Mobilized men could leave the service only for
health reasons
,
if they reach the maximum age
to serve in the army, or if
a civilian court orders their imprisonment
.
According to some local media, a majority of Russians are opposed to the Kremlin declaring general mobilization, although, according to official polls, two thirds of the inhabitants of this country support the military campaign.
Shoigu recognized on Wednesday
the death of almost 6,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine
since the so-called "special military operation" in Russia began in February.
Last March, the Russian president prohibited the sending to the front of young Russians who were doing compulsory military service.
According to human rights organizations, the Army has deployed thousands of conscripts in military units near the Ukrainian border in recent weeks.
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