When its territorial integrity is threatened, Russia "uses all available means," Russian President Vladimir Putin said. According to him, nuclear blackmail is being carried out against Russia by some NATO states.
"Anyone who tries to blackmail us in this way should know that the wind rose can turn in their direction."
Earlier, Putin announced a partial mobilization in Russia starting Wednesday.
“Only citizens who are currently in the reserve, and above all those who served in the Armed Forces, have certain military specialties and relevant experience, will be subject to conscription for military service. Those called up for military service before being sent to units will undergo additional military training without fail, taking into account the experience of a special military operation.
I instruct the heads of regions to provide all necessary assistance to the work of the military commissariat. All issues of material, resource and financial support for defense enterprises must be resolved by the government immediately.
The regime of repressions throughout Ukraine was strengthened in the harshest way. The policy of intimidation, terror and violence is assuming more and more terrible barbaric forms. We have no moral right to hand over people close to us to be torn to pieces by the executioner, we cannot but respond to their aspirations to determine their own future.
I have already given instructions to the Government and the Ministry of Defense in full and in the shortest possible time to determine the legal status of volunteers and fighters of the LPR and DPR. It should be the same as that of the regular military, including medical care, social guarantees. Particular attention should be paid to their equipment equipment.
The goal of the West is to weaken, divide and destroy our country. They directly say that in 1991 they were able to split the USSR, and now the time has come for the Russian Federation itself, that it should break up into many warring regions. A new next, as it had happened twice before, a large-scale offensive in the Donbass was inevitable, and then an attack on the Crimea. And a decision on a pre-emptive operation was necessary.”