MOSCOW, Russia – President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced "partial" mobilization in Russia, in an escalation of what Moscow calls its military operation in pro-Western Ukraine.
"I consider it necessary to support the proposal of the Defence Ministry and of the General Staff to conduct partial mobilization in the Russian Federation," Putin said during a televised address to the nation, adding that a relevant decree has already been signed.
Putin said that Russia will use all available means to protect its territory, accusing the West of seeking to "destroy" the country.
"When the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people. This is not a bluff," Putin said in a televised address to the nation, adding that the West aims to "weaken, divide and ultimately destroy our country."
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday that Russia would mobilize 300,000 reservists, after President Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilization over the conflict in Ukraine.
"Three hundred thousand reservists will be called up," Shoigu said on state television, noting that this is only a fraction of Russia's troops available to be called up.