The special military operation in Ukraine was "inevitable" and now we need a "partial military mobilization" in Russia because the West wants to "weaken, destroy and divide" the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin , in his long-awaited and repeatedly postponed speech on TV, recorded and then broadcast a few hours after Prime Minister Mario Draghi's intervention at the United Nations in favor of sanctions against Russia, marks a sudden escalation and recalls the military of the reserve: there are 300,000 , said Defense Minister Serghei Shoigu quoted by Tass. Men who have already served in the military, with combat experience and military specializations.
"In its aggressive anti-Russian policy, the West has gone beyond all limits," Putin said, repeating that Russia will use "all means" at its disposal and that those who are trying to use nuclear blackmail will find that the cards on the table can be turned against them: "I'm not bluffing."
As for the referendums on Donbass ("Further violation of international law", as Draghi called them at the UN), the territories of Ukraine that announced the vote to join Russia "have the support" of Moscow, whose the goal is "the liberation of the whole Donbass".
"It is our historical tradition and our people's destiny to stop those who seek world domination, who threaten to dismember and enslave the motherland. That's what we are doing now, and I believe in your support," the conclusion.
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The day by the hour:
Lavrov: "NATO weapons kill civilians in Russia"
"NATO weapons are used by the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev to kill civilians in the Russian territory on the border with Ukraine": the Moscow Foreign Minister, Serghei Lavrov, reiterated this in an interview with Newsweek quoted by Tass. "The Pentagon makes no secret of providing the Kiev intelligence with the coordinates of the objectives", he denounced.
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EU convenes Extraordinary Foreign Council
An extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Council has been convened for this evening in the light of the announcements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting is likely to be held in New York, where many of the ministers concerned are currently meeting.
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Protests in Russia, more than a thousand arrested
The number of people arrested at demonstrations against partial mobilization in Russia, which took place in various cities of the country, rose to 1,026. This was reported by Ovd-Info, an NGO that records the activities of the opposition and legally assists those arrested.
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Moscow-Kiev prisoner exchange
Ten prisoners of war from various countries, including the US and Great Britain, were transferred from Russia to Saudi Arabia as part of an exchange between Moscow and Kiev, mediated by Riyadh. Among the prisoners there are also citizens of Sweden, Morocco and Croatia. This was reported by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, which is "facilitating the procedures for their safe return to their respective countries".
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Protests in Russia against the mobilization, more than 200 people arrested
More than 200 people stopped by the police during demonstrations held today in many Russian cities against the declaration of partial mobilization. In the rallies held in 20 cities, writes the NGO Ovd-Info, 219 people were stopped.
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Kiev: "Now double support for Ukraine"
"The only appropriate response to Putin's bellicose threats is to redouble efforts to support Ukraine" in the face of the Russian threat of the use of nuclear weapons. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote it on Twitter, asking for "more sanctions against Russia", "more weapons for Ukraine" and "more solidarity with the Ukrainians" from the West.
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Queues from Russia, Finland fears a boom in arrivals
Concern is growing in Finland over a possible massive influx of Russian citizens after President Vladimir Putin declared partial military mobilization. Already in the last two days before the announcement, a total of 6,500 Russians entered the country, of which about a third with a tourist visa, according to the newspaper Iltalehti. And today long queues are signaled at the border crossings. In Helsinki, the newspaper sources point out, the decision by the Baltic countries to block tourist visas for Russians "was not seen favorably", given that the pressure of land migration is now concentrated exclusively on Finland, the only border still open.
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Usa: "Putin's speech is a sign that he is in crisis"
"Putin's speech is clearly a sign that he is in trouble." The spokesman for the American National Security Council, John Kirby told ABC News, underlining that the forces of Moscow are in crisis especially "in the north and in the east" of Ukraine. "We expected the call of the reservists, Putin is also making the wounded soldiers fight," Kirby said.
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Flights from Moscow sold out after the announcement of Putin's mobilization
Almost all flights departing from Russia were sold out within hours after Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists. The Guardian writes it. Google Trends data showed a surge in searches for Aviasales, Russia's most popular website for purchasing flights, after the announcement by the Russian president raised concerns that "skilled" men might not be able to fight. expatriate. According to Aviasales, flights from Moscow to Georgia, Turkey and Armenia - destinations that allow Russians to enter without a visa - were sold out within minutes of Putin's announcement.
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Navalny: "Mobilization is a huge tragedy"
"Now some workers of Kovrov (city 250 km from Moscow), in their thirties, will be called to die somewhere near Kherson. A huge tragedy". Thus the dissident Alexey Navalny, from prison, quoted by Mediazona, on the partial mobilization ordered by Putin. "I think they will not call from Moscow. Call 50 thousand people from Moscow and tomorrow 150 thousand relatives will protest on the street," Navalny said, in video link with the Kovrov court for a lawsuit against the administration of the prison where he is being held in full regime. hard, which he accuses of violation of rights.
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China urges dialogue
After Putin's speech, China calls on the parties involved in the crisis in Ukraine to a ceasefire and to engage in dialogue and consultations for a peaceful resolution. The Chinese position on the crisis in Ukraine is "consistent and clear", said Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, urging "to find a way to address the security concerns of all sides".
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The US ambassador in Kiev: "From Putin a sign of weakness"
The partial mobilization ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin is a sign of "weakness". This was claimed by the US ambassador to Ukraine. "The farce referendums and the mobilization are signs of weakness, of the Russian failure", the words of Bridget Brink. "The United States will never recognize Russia's claim to annex Ukrainian territory, and we will continue to stand alongside Ukraine for as long as necessary."
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Berlin: "Moscow's announcement marks a new escalation"
The announcement of a partial mobilization just made by Vladimir Putin marks "a new escalation" in the aggression against Ukraine. This is "a bad, wrong step". Green German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said so. "We will consult to see how to react politically," he explained. It is clear that Ukraine will have to continue to have "full support".
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New Russian bombings on the Zaporizhzhia power plant
Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom today accused Russia of having again hit the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, in southern Ukraine. "Russian terrorists bombed the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant again during the night," Energoatom writes on Telegram.
(Unioneonline)