The eyes of the world focused on the Kremlin, which has decided to implement a new escalation , announcing the referendum for the annexation to Russia of the invaded territories of the Ukrainian Donbass and - as confirmed by the voice of Vladimir Putin himself - to recall about 300 thousand reservists .
The tones used by the Russian president cannot fail to arouse concern: “The West - said the Tsar - has exceeded all limits. We will use all means to defend ourselves ”. A very veiled reference to the possible use of nuclear weapons . The reactions of the international community are harsh.
The European Union immediately feared new sanctions : "Other restrictive measures will be adopted as soon as possible in coordination with our partners", said the High Representative for Foreign Affairs of Brussels Josep Borrell .
And even London did not stand by, with Prime Minister Liz Truss announcing that the UK will maintain military support in Kiev "until Ukraine has triumphed".
"A nuclear war can never be won and must not be fought ," US President Joe Biden said instead, speaking at the UN general assembly. "We don't want conflicts - he added - and we don't want a new cold war".
Meanwhile, on Telegram the vice president of the Moscow security council Dmitry Medvedev raises his tone further , explaining that after the referendum for the annexation of Donbass "the protection of all the territories that have joined will be significantly strengthened by the Russian armed forces".
"Russia - added Medvedev - has announced that not only mobilization capabilities, but also any Russian weapon, including strategic nuclear weapons and weapons based on new principles, can be used for such protection".
He writes this warning that "the hypersonic is able to reach goals in Europe and the United States much faster".
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The news by the hour
Zelensky to the Russians: Protest against the mobilization "
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today called on Russians to "protest" against the partial mobilization announced by Russian leader Vladimir Putin. "55,000 Russian soldiers have died in these six months of war ... Do you want more? No? Then protest. React, flee or surrender" to the Ukrainian army, Zelensky said in his daily speech addressing the Russians. "You are already complicit in all these crimes, murders and tortures of Ukrainians. Because you have been silent," Zelensky added. "And now it's up to you to choose: for men in Russia, this is a choice to die or live, to become a cripple or to preserve health." "For women in Russia, the choice is to lose husbands, children, grandchildren forever, or still try to protect them from death," she continued.
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Kiev: "Many tortured among freed Ukrainian prisoners"
"Many" of the 215 Ukrainian POWs released in the past hours' exchange with Russia were "tortured" in captivity. The Kiev authorities say so.
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Lavrov at the UN rejects Western accusations against Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected Western accusations against Ukraine in the UN Security Council and accused Kiev of "dragging the fighting to weaken Russia".
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Norway suspends visa simplification agreement with Russia
Norway has "temporarily suspended the agreement on the simplification of the visa regime" signed in 2007 with Russia. This was announced by the Oslo Migration Agency in a note, cited by the Barents Observer, specifying that the decision, which follows that of the EU Council of 9 September last, is in force from today. According to the Norwegian newspaper, the rule will lead to higher costs and longer bureaucratic times for Russians who want to apply for a visa to enter the country, thus significantly reducing the number of those who will be granted. Norway and Russia share a 198 km long border.
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Media: "Russia will mobilize one million people". Kremlin: "Lies"
The soldiers who can be recalled to the front by Russia in light of the partial mobilization announced by Vladimir Putin would not be 300 thousand, as declared by Defense Minister Serghei Shoigu, but one million. This was stated by Novaya Gazeta Europe, citing a source from the Kremlin. The site reminds that article 7 of the decree, which indicates the number of people who can be enlisted, has been classified. "The figure was corrected several times and eventually settled on one million," the source said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the reconstruction, calling it "a lie" at TASS.
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Finland, the number of Russians crossing the border increases
The traffic of Russian citizens who arrived in Finalndia crossing the border crossings in the south-eastern area has increased: this was stated by the Finnish border guard on Twitter, quoted by the Finnish newspaper AAmulehti. Matti Pitkäniitty, head of the Border Guard's international cooperation unit, said a total of 4,824 Russian citizens arrived across the border in Finland yesterday. Compared to the Wednesday of the previous week, the number of arrivals was higher than normal.
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More bombs in Zaporizhzhia
The Russian army bombed the city and the region of Zaporizhzhia in the morning, an area where the largest nuclear power plant in Europe is located. This was reported by the head of the regional military administration Oleksandr Starukh. "The enemy has hit the regional center. Some areas have remained without electricity. Investigations are underway on possible victims and destruction," he said.
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Usa: “Reservists? Moscow in difficulty "
President Putin's decision to partially mobilize Russian citizens, ordering them to fight in Ukraine, reflects the Kremlin's difficulties on the battlefield, the unpopularity of the war and the reluctance of Russians to fight it ", states the US secretary of state. Antony Blinken: "Putin is not operating from a position of strength but this is rather a sign of the failure of his mission", he added.
(Unioneonline)