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Soldiers in eastern Ukraine watch Putin's speech on TV
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IMAGO/RIA Novosti/IMAGO/SNA
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an immediate partial mobilization.
The step is seen as a reaction to Ukraine's military successes and has been criticized internationally.
The surprise at Putin's announcement, however, does not seem too great.
An "absolutely predictable call that looks more like an attempt to justify one's own failure," said Ukrainian presidential adviser Mychaolo Podoliak when asked by the Reuters news agency.
"The war is clearly not proceeding according to Russia's scenario and thus required extremely unpopular decisions by Putin to mobilize and severely restrict the rights of the population."
Podoljak later became clearer on Twitter and mockingly asked: "Is everything still going according to plan or not?" The war planned for "three days" has already lasted 210 days.
The Russians, who demanded Ukraine's annihilation, have now received mobilization, closed borders, blocked accounts and prison sentences for deserters, among other things.
"Life has a wonderful sense of humor," concluded Podoliak.
In the morning, Putin announced the partial mobilization of Russians of military age.
In a recorded televised address, he said he supported the Defense Department's proposal to mobilize reservists who had already served and "have relevant experience."
In his address to the nation, Putin also sharply attacked the West, which has responded with sanctions to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and financial and military support for Kyiv.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala sees the arrangement as a further escalation of the war.
“The partial mobilization announced by Vladimir Putin is an attempt to further escalate the war that Russia has started against Ukraine.
And it is further proof that Russia is the sole aggressor.” It is necessary to help Ukraine.
"And in our own interest we must continue this," added Fiala.
"Bad and wrong move from Russia"
The federal government has sharply criticized Russia's partial mobilization in the war against Ukraine.
Kremlin chief Putin's decision to mobilize 300,000 reservists was "a further escalation of this illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," said Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) in Berlin.
This is a "bad and wrong step from Russia", the consequences of which the federal government will discuss.
The Federal Minister of Economics added that it was “clear to him that we will continue to give our full support to Ukraine”.
"This is obviously an escalation," said Gillian Keegan, Parliamentary Secretary of State at the British Foreign Office.
In an interview with Sky News, she also called for Russia to be taken seriously.
'Clearly we should take this very seriously.
Because we're not in control - and I'm really not sure he's in control either," she said, referring to Putin and his nuclear threats.
US diplomats interpret the latest development as a sign of Russia's weakness.
"Sham referendums and mobilizations are signs of weakness, of Russian failure," said US Ambassador to Kyiv, Bridget Brink, on Twitter.
"The United States will never recognize Russia's claim to allegedly annexed Ukrainian territory, and we will stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary."
"I would advise staying calm"
In the Netherlands, for the time being, one sees no reason to lose one's composure.
“The mobilization, the call for referendums in Donetsk, all this is a sign of panic.
We've heard his rhetoric about nuclear weapons many times and it leaves us cold," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told NOS.
“It's all part of the rhetoric we know.
I would advise staying calm."
Russia had recently come under increasing pressure in Ukraine.
The Kremlin is reacting to the Ukrainian successes by escalating the war.
Moscow wants to push ahead with the annexation of Ukrainian territories.
Referendums have been announced for this, but critics of Russia dispute their legality.
asc/Reuters/AFP
