Ukraine, 9-21-22

First, links to reports from the the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, the Moscow Times, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. — MCM

   

Putin sets partial military call-up, won’t ‘bluff’ on nukes, by Karl Ritter | AP  KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia today, risking a deeply unpopular step that follows a string of humiliating setbacks for his troops nearly seven months after invading Ukraine. It’s the first mobilization in Russia since World War II and is sure to . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Putin escalates Ukraine war, issues nuclear threat to West, by Guy Faulconbridge | Reuters  * Putin announces partial mobilisation * Warns West over ‘nuclear blackmail’ * Says Russia will use all means to defend itself * This is not a bluff, says Putin * Russia moves to annex swathes of Ukrainian territory | LONDON — President Vladimir Putin today ordered Russia’s first mobilisation since World War Two and backed a plan to annex swathes of Ukraine, warning the West he was not bluffing when he said he’d be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. In the biggest escalation of the Ukraine war since Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion, Putin explicitly raised the spectre of a nuclear conflict, approved a plan to annex a chunk of Ukraine the size of Hungary, and called up 300,000 reservists. READ MORE . . .

   

Putin announces a partial military mobilization for Russian citizens. Reported by Charles Maynes | NPR  MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a “partial mobilization” of Russia’s armed forces on Wednesday morning — signing a decree that will send Russians who have gone through military training to join the fight in Ukraine while stopping short of an all-out draft. “Only those citizens . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

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Russian history professor breaks down Putin’s latest speech. From NPR. Sergey Radchenko, professor of Russian history at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies takes a look at Putin’s speech declaring a partial mobilization in Russia. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

   

Flights Abroad Sell Out, Stocks Plunge on Putin’s ‘Partial’ Mobilization. From the Moscow Times. Virtually all flights from Russia to available foreign destinations were sold out Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin declared a “partial” mobilization of the country’s 25 million reservists. Flights from Moscow to the capitals of Georgia, Turkey and Armenia — which do not require visas for Russians — for Sept. 21 were unavailable within minutes of Putin’s announcement, according to . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Top Zelenskyy advisor discusses Ukraine’s latest military moves. NPR hears from a top advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the latest Ukrainian military advances and Russia’s plan to hold a referendum in territory it occupies. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

   

Mobilization tasks set – what Sergy Shoigu said at Defense Ministry board meeting. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s Defense Ministry has determined partial mobilization tasks for all regions of the country. The General Staff has issued the necessary instructions regarding mobilization procedures, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the ministry’s board meeting today. He . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Talks with Ukraine to be out of the question after Donbass joins Russia, lawmaker says. From Tass. MOSCOW — Any prospects for talks with Ukraine after Donbass joins Russia will be impossible, Chairman of the State Duma (the lower house of parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky told reporters today. “Unfortunately, talks have been out of the question for a while. The West and the Kiev junta that it controls . . . READ MORE . . .

   

TO BE CONTINUED