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It's not a war, but a Special Military Operation. And that operation goes so well, it is now time not to call a general mobilisation, but only a partial mobilisation.
On Wednesday September 21, at 09:15h, Russian President Vladimir Putin made the announcement that was rumored since days: all members of the Russian Army's reserve, as well as anybody who has ever served in the Russian military, are called upon to do their duty in the Special Military Operation, fighting the Nazi-Ukrainian forces.
Refusing to report will result in 15 years prison. Skipping out during service will result in 15 years prison. And surrendering to the enemy without being incapacitated will result in 15 years prison, as will not trying to flee from a POW camp.
The move is not unexpected. The Ukrainian counter-offensive triggered the first comments on Russian television about the need for mobilisation, and it was just waiting until Russian regional elections had passed, last week. On top of that, the recent meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation didn't go to plan, apparently.
First there was India's Modi publicly stating that this ain't a time for war, and that he had repeatedly asked to stop the whole thing. Then there was a falling out over the same subject with both Turkey and Kazakhstan, to which Putin apparently reacted very agressively. All combined might perhaps explain the rather confused press conference afterwards.
Immediately after the end of the SCO Summit, one Nikolai Patrushev stepped on a plane to meet with Chinese colleagues to discuss strategic stability and public security and law and order. He returned after 2 days, on the 19th. On the 20th, a statement by Putin was announced for the evening, but that was postponed for reasons unknown.
In a first phase, 300,000 reservists are being called up but, as Russia's Kommersant business newspaper noted, the total number of people who will be called up is secret, hence open to modification.
Do I need to add that it all ended with the threat to use nuclear weapons?
Official announcement here.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 22 2022, @04:58PM
Perhaps you missed this in my previous comment:
So, when are you going to start showing some concern for the people of Ukraine? Do you still stand by your comment that you "don't give a small rat's ass that Ukrainians might live under Russian rule"?
I will just note that Putin could solve that problem in a matter of an hour or two with just a few phone calls.
No, I accept what I am seeing with my own eyes and what I am hearing with my own ears. In your previous comment you said that "we" in the west were suffering. You said that "we" should be anticipating casualties soon. I'm not yet seeing signs of any of that. The most significant change is that I was paying more for fuel at the gas pump, although gas prices have been coming down in recent weeks. I am also paying somewhat more for groceries. But NO casualties in my neighborhood, so far. And I don't really expect any casualties here in the heartland to come from this. By contrast, the ones who are really suffering are the Ukrainians. They really are suffering casualties. As in, mass graves types of casualties. Don't you think we should be concerned about that?
If you are referring to what I think you are referring to, the people of Ukraine got rid of a Russian-backed lackey. Why do you object to the Ukrainians deciding how they are governed (and by whom)?
I believe that is Russian-backed militias. Pay attention!
<rolls eyes>And you accuse me of delving into "stupid"? You have got a hell of lot of nerve!
Neither is it the paranoid fantasy you are portraying it to be, Vlad.