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Biden's National Security advisor Jake Sullivan: We have information that Putin is preparing to potential mobilization measures.
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Biden's National Security advisor Jake Sullivan: We have information that Putin is preparing to potential mobilization measures.
PUTIN'S SPEECH: According to Russian state channels, Putin's speech has been delayed by an unspecified period of time. We will be providing updates throughout his speech.
Watch this closely: it raises the possibility Russia will then declare any Ukrainian attacks on these areas as attacks on Russian territory, creating a pretext for further escalation or mobilization.
President of France Emmanuel Macron called the organization of referendums on the territory of Donbas "cynicism and provocation". "We will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine" - he said
After annexing the territories, Moscow would likely declare Ukrainian attacks on those areas to be assaults on Russia itself, a potential trigger for military mobilization or a dangerous escalation such as the use of a nuclear weapon against Ukraine.
President Erdogan: "Turkey will never recognize so called referenda in Ukraine."
Kremlin wants to freeze its war now so it can hold on to what's left of its gains in UA. So it's calling referendums, while at the same time trying to intimidate the West with threat to "escalate."
The threats are a bluff, but Putin's betting France and Germany will fall for it.
Video:'It's an imitation of democratic norms but imitating these norms doesn't bring real sovereignty to the people' says French president Emmanuel Macron, as it was announced that referendums could be held in four Russia-controlled regions of Ukraine.
Russia’s State Duma passed legislation introducing stricter punishments for any troops who “voluntarily” surrender on the frontline or refuse to follow orders. The legislation has widely been seen as the first step to launching full-scale mobilization.
President's Office: There will be no diplomacy if Russia holds pseudo-referendums.
Russia's plans to hold sham referendums on occupied territories will not affect the position of Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine's Armed Forces, said Zelensky's spokesman Serhii Nykyforov.
Holidays declared from 26 to 27th September in the Donetsk People's Republic. In the LPR, holidays have been declared from September 22nd to September 28th.
“Encroachment onto Russian territory is a crime which allows you to use all the forces of self-defence,” Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and prime minister who is now the deputy head of Russia’s national security council, wrote
#Putin´s speech to the nation will begin in 13 minutes, Live Broadcast:
Russian sources report that Putin's speech will now begin at 21:00 Moscow Time.
General Staff: Russia to transfer paratroopers from Syria to Ukraine. Due to a lack of personnel, the Russian authorities have decided to withdraw units of the 217th Airborne Regiment from Syria and transfer them to the frontline in Ukraine, the General Staff said.
Today, Russian people are preoccupied with a pressing question according to Google Trends: "How to leave Russia"
Is he running the clock to midnight so that nobody from Russia has advance notice to escape?
Belarusian dictator #Lukashenko has declared the need for general mobilization & martial law in #Belarus "to protect the country from #Ukraine." That's dictator code for: "To protect my dictatorship from democracy & free people."
BREAKING: Any Attacks by the Kiev administration after the announcement of the results of the referendums will be regarded as aggression against Russia, - Olga Kovitidi
Crimea Senator Olga Kovitidi warns that any Ukrainian attack on Donbas after the referenda will be viewed as aggression against Russia These referenda will be used as a pretext to justify more sweeping strikes on civilian infrastructure and potentially heightened mobilization
