Putin Calls Up Reservists after Losses in Ukraine

Putin Calls Up Reservists after Losses in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a call-up of military reservists on Wednesday after recent military losses in Ukraine.

It 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 demonstrations¹.

Russia has struggled to replace its troops in Ukraine. The military has sought out volunteers and even reportedly brought prisoners to join the war.

In 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.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a German newspaper that he thought Putin would be unlikely to use nuclear weapons. But he noted² that Putin's threat showed why it was important to stand up to him.

NATO 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 "brutal³, needless war."

How many reservists

The 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.

Russian 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.

"People will evade⁴ this mobilization in every possible way, bribe⁵ their way out of this mobilization, leave the country," Oreshkin told the AP.

The Vesna youth democratic opposition⁶ 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?"

Russian activist⁷ group Avtozak reported small demonstrations following Putin's speech in several cities in Siberia and the Far East, with some arrests.

As 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.

The 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.

Russia already considers Luhansk and Donetsk to be independent states. The two areas together make up the Donbas that Russia partially⁸ occupied in 2014.

Ukraine 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.

The 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.

Russian defense⁹ 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.

Words in This Story

reserve — n. a supply of something that is stored so that it can be used at a later time

mobilize — v. to make soldiers, an army, etc. ready for war

ticket — n. a piece of paper that allows you to see a show, participate in an event, travel on a vehicle, etc.

desperation — n. a strong feeling of sadness, fear, and loss of hope

evade — v. to stay away from

bribe — n. something valuable that is given in order to get someone to do something

1 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

4 evade   

vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避

参考例句：

• He tried to evade the embarrassing question.他企图回避这令人难堪的问题。
• You are in charge of the job.How could you evade the issue?你是负责人，你怎么能对这个问题不置可否？

5 bribe   

n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通

参考例句：

• He tried to bribe the policeman not to arrest him.他企图贿赂警察不逮捕他。
• He resolutely refused their bribe.他坚决不接受他们的贿赂。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

8 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。