Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed: “I have signed a directive on partial mobilization and instructed the General Staff to start implementation procedures” and announced that “the redeployment, redeployment and redeployment of Russian military groups in Izyum and Plaklia to the Donbass to strengthen our forces in this region” .

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of the Russian army, referring to the situation in Ukraine.

Putin pointed out: “We are talking about protecting our lands and about Russia, and the West wants to destroy our country”, adding that “Kyiv uses mercenaries and other volunteers led by NATO”, stressing that “the West does not want peace between Russia and Ukraine . the fate of the people, and we support this decision”, noting that “we have weapons of mass destruction against weapons”.

Putin also emphasized that “most people in the historical regions of Ukraine do not want to live at the mercy of neo-Nazis”, noting that “we will use all existing means and opportunities to preserve our territory and our sovereignty”, stating that “we support decisions on independence Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.