Putin Calls Up Reservists after Losses in Ukraine
2022-09-22
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1Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a call-up of military reservists on Wednesday after recent military losses in Ukraine.
2It is the first mobilization of reservists since the second world war.
3The move quickly led to a sell-out of plane tickets leaving the country and reportedly brought some demonstrations.
4Russia has struggled to replace its troops in Ukraine.
5The military has sought out volunteers and even reportedly brought prisoners to join the war.
6In his seven-minute televised speech to the nation, Putin claimed, without evidence, that NATO countries had threatened to use nuclear weapons against Russia.
7And he said Russia "also has various means of destruction."
8Putin added that he would use all available means to protect the Russian people.
9Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a German newspaper that he thought Putin would be unlikely to use nuclear weapons.
10But he noted that Putin's threat showed why it was important to stand up to him.
11NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg denounced Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons as "dangerous and reckless."
12At a speech to the United Nations Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called on all nations to speak out against Russia's "brutal, needless war."
13The total number of reservists to be called up could be as high as 300,000, Russian officials said.
14However, the order offered few details, raising suspicions that the number could get larger.
15Russian political expert Dmitry Oreshkin said Putin's announcement felt like "an act of desperation."
16He said the Russian people will find ways to resist Putin's decision.
17"People will evade this mobilization in every possible way, bribe their way out of this mobilization, leave the country," Oreshkin told the AP.
18The Vesna youth democratic opposition movement called for nationwide protests.
19The group said, "Thousands of Russian men -- our fathers, brothers and husbands -- will be thrown into the ... war. What will they be dying for? What will mothers and children be crying for?"
20Russian activist group Avtozak reported small demonstrations following Putin's speech in several cities in Siberia and the Far East, with some arrests.
21As protest calls spread online, Russian officials warned that organizing or participating in such actions could lead to up to 15 years in prison.
22The Russian state agency overseeing communication and media, also warned that websites would be blocked for publishing what they called "false information" about the mobilization.
23The partial mobilization order came a day after Russian-controlled areas in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes on becoming parts of Russia.
24The votes will start Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk areas.
25Russia already considers Luhansk and Donetsk to be independent states.
26The two areas together make up the Donbas that Russia partially occupied in 2014.
27Ukraine and the West consider all parts of Ukraine held by Russian forces to be illegally occupied.
28Russia now holds about 60 percent of Donetsk and had captured nearly all of Luhansk by July after months of fighting.
29The voting is all but certain to go Russia's way. And foreign leaders have described the votes as illegal.
30The war in Ukraine has killed thousands of people, driven up food prices worldwide and caused energy costs to increase.
31It has also brought fears of a possible disaster at Europe's largest nuclear plant in Ukraine's now Russia-occupied southeast.
32Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said 5,937 Russian soldiers have died in the conflict.
33That figure is far lower than Western estimates of tens of thousands.
34I'm Dan Novak.
1Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a call-up of military reservists on Wednesday after recent military losses in Ukraine. 2It is the first mobilization of reservists since the second world war. The move quickly led to a sell-out of plane tickets leaving the country and reportedly brought some demonstrations. 3Russia has struggled to replace its troops in Ukraine. The military has sought out volunteers and even reportedly brought prisoners to join the war. 4In his seven-minute televised speech to the nation, Putin claimed, without evidence, that NATO countries had threatened to use nuclear weapons against Russia. And he said Russia "also has various means of destruction." Putin added that he would use all available means to protect the Russian people. 5Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a German newspaper that he thought Putin would be unlikely to use nuclear weapons. But he noted that Putin's threat showed why it was important to stand up to him. 6NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg denounced Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons as "dangerous and reckless." At a speech to the United Nations Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called on all nations to speak out against Russia's "brutal, needless war." 7How many reservists 8The total number of reservists to be called up could be as high as 300,000, Russian officials said. However, the order offered few details, raising suspicions that the number could get larger. 9Russian political expert Dmitry Oreshkin said Putin's announcement felt like "an act of desperation." He said the Russian people will find ways to resist Putin's decision. 10"People will evade this mobilization in every possible way, bribe their way out of this mobilization, leave the country," Oreshkin told the AP. 11The Vesna youth democratic opposition movement called for nationwide protests. The group said, "Thousands of Russian men -- our fathers, brothers and husbands -- will be thrown into the ... war. What will they be dying for? What will mothers and children be crying for?" 12Russian activist group Avtozak reported small demonstrations following Putin's speech in several cities in Siberia and the Far East, with some arrests. 13As protest calls spread online, Russian officials warned that organizing or participating in such actions could lead to up to 15 years in prison. The Russian state agency overseeing communication and media, also warned that websites would be blocked for publishing what they called "false information" about the mobilization. 14The partial mobilization order came a day after Russian-controlled areas in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes on becoming parts of Russia. The votes will start Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk areas. 15Russia already considers Luhansk and Donetsk to be independent states. The two areas together make up the Donbas that Russia partially occupied in 2014. 16Ukraine and the West consider all parts of Ukraine held by Russian forces to be illegally occupied. Russia now holds about 60 percent of Donetsk and had captured nearly all of Luhansk by July after months of fighting. The voting is all but certain to go Russia's way. And foreign leaders have described the votes as illegal. 17The war in Ukraine has killed thousands of people, driven up food prices worldwide and caused energy costs to increase. It has also brought fears of a possible disaster at Europe's largest nuclear plant in Ukraine's now Russia-occupied southeast. 18Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said 5,937 Russian soldiers have died in the conflict. That figure is far lower than Western estimates of tens of thousands. 19I'm Dan Novak. 20Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press and Reuters. 21______________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23reserve - n. a supply of something that is stored so that it can be used at a later time 24mobilize - v. to make soldiers, an army, etc. ready for war 25ticket - n. a piece of paper that allows you to see a show, participate in an event, travel on a vehicle, etc. 26desperation - n. a strong feeling of sadness, fear, and loss of hope 27evade - v. to stay away from 28bribe - n. something valuable that is given in order to get someone to do something