Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas is among those who believe that Russia will impose martial law once current voter referendums conclude in occupied territories in Ukraine.
"I think that the rumors about the introduction of martial law in the border areas, whether they border on Ukraine or somewhere else, are not just rumors," Anusauskas said Monday, according to Lithuanian Radio and Television. Martial law will follow voting that began last Friday and is expected to conclude Tuesday, Anusauskas predicted. Ongoing referendums are currently taking place in the four regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
U.S. President Joe Biden and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell have cast doubt on the legitimacy of the referendums, with Biden referring to them as "sham" votes that violate the United Nations charter.
"They go in. They put in puppet governments, local governments. And then they proceed with a vote, which they'll manipulate in any event in order to try to declare the territory Russian territory," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday. "It is not. It will never be recognized as such. And the Ukrainians have every right to take it back."
The mobilization of approximately 300,000 reservists ordered last week by President Vladimir Putin has provoked strong reactions across Russia and surrounding territories, including protests in some of the country's major cities.
Innumerable Russian men conscripted to fight have attempted to leave the country, facing potential consequences of 10-year prison sentences. Videos online have appeared to show intoxicated men being called into the conflict while others have emotional goodbyes with their families.
Attacks on Russian military enlistment centers have also spiked.
Russian media outlet Meduza, quoting two sources within the Kremlin, reported that Russia will close its borders on Wednesday to ban men of conscription age from leaving.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Monday that discussions surrounding martial law have taken place at the highest levels of government, reported Russian state-owned news agency Tass.
"I don't know anything about this," Peskov said, adding that transport mobilization also has not been considered. "No decisions have been made for now."
A report issued Sunday by the Institute for the Study of War, a defense and foreign affairs think tank based in Washington, D.C., stated that Putin's order of mobilization will not likely have the intended effects.
It said that while the decision made on September 21 will add extra manpower, it will simultaneously result in inefficient and higher domestic, social and political costs.
"Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to overcome fundamental structural challenges in attempting to mobilize large numbers of Russians to continue his war in Ukraine," the report said.
Newsweek reached out to the Kremlin and U.S. State Department for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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
