Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has outlined four tasks the nation's military must complete in order for the successful deployment of an additional 300,000 troops.
On Wednesday, Shoigu and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the mobilization efforts via a televised address. The announcement has been described as a "sign of weakness" and Russia's "failure" by the United States, United Kingdom and other Western nations.
Along with the increased troop deployment, Shoigu also outlined humanitarian assistance, liberating the Donetsk region and transferring forces into the Donbas region in connection with the mobilization.
Wednesday's announcement has been met with vitriol by many Russians, including protests in Russia's Far East with more scheduled. Online petitions have been signed by over 140,000 individuals and counting.
Along with the Russian stock market crashing, many Russian citizens have also attempted to make their way out of the country. Russian online newspaper Lenta reported that flights to Armenia, Turkey and Georgia quickly sold out.
One of the goals outlined by Shoigu during a ministry meeting on Wednesday involved humanitarian assistance, according to the Russian state-controlled Tass news agency.
Russian officials said that the Ukrainian military has resorted to "terrorist methods of warfare" by shelling cities and using cluster munitions at will. The same officials say that the Russian army is creating "favorable conditions for establishing peaceful life in the liberated territories."
That includes the reported construction of three apartment buildings in Mariupol, with another nine promised to be built by year's end. Two multifunctional medical centers have also been built in Mariupol and Lugansk.
The "special military operation" advocated by Russia since the conflict started includes the continued liberation of territory of the Donetsk People's Republic. Also, forces in Izium and Balakliya have been transferred to Donbas, where Ukraine has staged a counteroffensive.
Russian officials also claim that Ukrainian military efforts near Nikolayev and Krivoi Rog have proven unsuccessful, alleging the deaths of over 7,000 men in Kyiv and the loss of nearly 1,000 pieces of equipment.
Shoigu said that the necessary instructions regarding mobilization procedures had been issued and signed as a directive.
He is calling for "measures to counteract provocations and illegal actions, as well as enhance the security of recruiting offices," Tass reported. That includes "close cooperations" between military commanders and regional authorities.
"The base for the mobilization deployment of military units, military commissariats and the reinforcement apparatus are ready for mobilization," Shoigu said. "Time is ripe to put into practice the experience gained during the annual strategic exercises."
Shoigu's comments came amid blustering new nuclear threats made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said he is not bluffing.
In the span of a 14-minute speech on Wednesday, Putin referred to the Ukrainian government and its armed forces as "neo-Nazis" 10 times. He originally used that term as justification to invade Ukraine in February.
Newsweek reached out to the Russian defense ministry for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek reporter based in Michigan. His focus is reporting on Ukraine and Russia, along with social ... Read more
