Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday a partial military mobilization in Russia to fulfill the objectives of the „special military operation” in Ukraine, during a televised address to the nation, according to TASS, Reuters and AFP, Agerpres read.

In his televised speech, initially announced for Tuesday evening, but which had been postponed for unspecified reasons, the Russian president stated that his objective is the „liberation” of Donbas, a mining area in eastern Ukraine composed of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and that the majority of the population in this area he does not want to return to what he called „under the yoke” of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has said he supports annexation referendums to be held in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, saying it is his „moral duty” to protect residents here from the „neo-Nazis” in power in Kyiv.

The Russian president stated that his country is only responding to the West’s aggression, which, according to him, is subjecting Moscow to „nuclear blackmail”.

Agerpres