Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization. Slight mobilization can become massive at any time, experts warn.
On Wednesday, September 21, in his televised morning address to the nation’s citizens, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization. From today, citizens of the Russian Federation who have undergone military training and have the specialty of military registration can be called up for military service and sent to the front in Ukraine. Citizens called for mobilization service will have the status of contractors, and contracts will not be terminated until the end of the period of partial mobilization, except in some cases – due to age, health reasons, or by court judgment of deprivation of liberty. A slight movement could be big at any moment, experts warn.
Who will be affected by the mobilization?
The text of the decree of the President of the Russian Federation does not define what partial mobilization means. The document, signed by Putin, only says that this campaign is being conducted in accordance with the laws “On the mobilization of training and mobilization in the Russian Federation” and “On military duty and military service.” There is also no definition of partial mobilization in these laws. Who exactly and what quantity will be mobilized is decided by the Ministry of Defense.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu gave his explanations in an interview on Russian television after Putin’s appeal. “These are not some people who have never seen or heard anything about the army,” said the head of the Ministry of Defense. “These are actually those who a) served, b) have a military specialty, that is, the specialty. that is needed today in the armed forces, c) have combat experience”. In total, according to him, the plan is to mobilize 300 thousand people. They don’t include students. Shoigu also promised not to send conscripts to the front in Ukraine.
Conscripts can be sent to war zones
300 thousand – this is more than one percent of the total number of reservists announced by Shoigu – 25 million people. Later, Minister Shoigu’s statement was clarified by the head of the State Duma Defense Commission, Andrei Kartapolov. According to him, graduates of military departments can also join the ranks of military personnel. “If their (graduates of military departments) military specialties are in demand, they can be called. Otherwise, they can safely work for the good of their homeland in defense industry enterprises,” quoted the RIA Novosti news agency Kartapolov.
Although Putin and Shoigu reject the possibility of sending conscripts to the front, such a solution is still possible, said Sergey Krivenko, head of the human rights group Citizen. Army. Law and former member of the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation (HRC). “There is only one restriction that prohibits sending abroad and to the war zone – if there is no four-month conscription service,” explained the expert. “After four months, they can be sent, it’s just not a popular proposal in Russia.” He called the words of the president and the minister of defense “cunning” and noted that “in the inclusion of the territories of the south- east of Ukraine in Russia, they can send any military personnel there without any problems.”
Prepared for mobilization throughout the summer
It does not matter what form of mobilization is announced – partial or general, Krivenko added. “The main thing is to understand that the mobilization has been announced,” he said. “The slight mobilization can immediately become general. Shoigu has now announced the figure of 300,000, but it is out of order [президента]which means it can increase or decrease in any direction.
Russian authorities quietly and early prepared for the mobilization, said Alexei Tabalov, founder of the Conscript School organization. “All summer, we observed an active campaign to call storekeepers for military training,” said the human rights activist. needs repair. Now it is clear that they are preparing storekeepers to be called to the first ranks in the mobilization. “
Putin wants to convince Ukraine to sit at the negotiating table
The decision to mobilize Putin was not easy given the potential risks, but he nevertheless agreed to raise the stakes to “impress Ukraine with his determination and readiness for escalation,” suggested political analyst Abbas Gallyamov. “What choice does he have? Losing the war is a political downfall, after which he cannot continue as president,” Galliamov explained. “The Ukrainian people don’t want to sit at the negotiating table. That’s his problem.”
At the same time, the military personnel called for mobilization are unlikely to help the Russian army militarily, politician Dmitry Gudkov agrees with Gallyamov. “The situation is very serious and speaks about the inadequacy of the Putin regime,” he said. “Considering the weapons that are being supplied to Ukraine, we are talking about an additional set of cannon fodder. This is a new funeral campaign.”
In Russia, on the night of September 21, protests began, announced by the “Spring” youth movement. Small groups of protesters gathered in the main squares of many Russian cities and were almost immediately dispersed by the police. Sociologist from the Levada Center Denis Volkov is sure that the protest in the Russian Federation has no chance of becoming massive.
“A mass protest in Russia is now impossible. It is from the realm of fantasy,” the expert is categorical. “They are not coordinated, and an uncoordinated protest carries a very high price. The manifestations cannot be abandoned.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.