A few comments about this decision:

• It will take Russia a few months to gather and retrain (refresher courses) these forces and they will not be immediately available to protect the Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporozhie and Kherson regions during the upcoming referendum on whether to join Russia or not.  The 3rd volunteer army corps is already deployed in the south and could greatly assist in this.
• Putin and Shoigu gave several reasons for this decision, including the very long line of contact, the direct involvement of NATO personnel who are now running the Ukronazi regime in Kiev and the threats by the West to dismantle Russia.
• Shoigu indicated that the UAF lost about 50% of its personnel (over 100’000 soldiers out of a total potential of about 200’000).  He also added that most of the Ukrainian weapons systems, which were of Soviet origin, were mostly destroyed.  Russian KIAs are just under 6000 soldiers.
• Shoigu also clearly spelled out that “we are not so much fighting against Ukraine but against NATO plus the united (collective) West“.
• Shoigu also mentioned that all of the NATO satellite capabilities (70 military and 200+ civilian satellites) are used against Russia right now.
• Finally, Shoigu added that NATO high-precision weapons are deliberately used by NATO commanders to terrorize civilians.

In other words, Russia is preparing for an escalation of this war in the coming months.  She is basically augmenting her forces to a level that could deal with a major NATO escalation in the Ukraine (and elsewhere as not all mobilized forces would have to be combat units; deploying more C4ISR capabilities, logistics/supply forces or civil affairs and counter-terrorism units would also make sense).

The other big news of the day is, of course, that Russia will back and accept the outcome of the referendums in the four regions mentioned above.

Frankly, I have mixed feelings about this decision, but I understand that the Kremlin simply had no other option for the following reasons:

• This decision put away the thorny issue of “will the Russians stay or leave”?  Once the four regions vote to become part of Russia (which most opinion polls say will happen), they will forever retain that status.
• With all the rumors in the West about a limited use of nuclear forces, by making these four regions part of Russian proper, not just de facto but also de jure, Russia extends her nuclear umbrella over them (Russian military doctrine allows for the use of nukes if the territorial integrity and safety of Russia are under threat).  Here I will quote Putin:

They have even resorted to the nuclear blackmail. I am referring not only to the Western-encouraged shelling of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which poses a threat of a nuclear disaster, but also to the statements made by some high-ranking representatives of the leading NATO countries on the possibility and admissibility of using weapons of mass destruction – nuclear weapons – against Russia.  I would like to remind those who make such statements regarding Russia that our country has different types of weapons as well, and some of them are more modern than the weapons NATO countries have. In the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to defend Russia and our people, we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us. This is not a bluff.

• Furthermore, I have always said that for all my total support and sympathy, the LDNR republics have major issues (including security issues!) and I am immensely relieved that the Russian state organs, including security services, will now directly take over the management of these republics.

Of course, we can expect the usual hysterics and doubling-down from the western ruling class which already promised never to recognize the outcome of any referendums.  Russia understands that and she has now taken the measures needed for a long conflict.

As for the Ukronazis, we can be sure that they will do everything in their power to try to disrupt the referendums.  Furthermore, the NATO commanders in Kiev fully understand that the Russian forces will only become more powerful over the next few months, so they will be in a hurry to score as many victories (including the murder of civilians and strikes against the civilian infrastructure) as possible.

I fully expect an increase in NATO+Ukronazi attacks in the coming weeks and months.  These attacks will only stop when a) the West runs out of resources and b) when their outcome will bring no tangible results whatsoever.

For the consolidated West, this has been mostly about optics: PR, PSYOPs, propaganda, you name it.  With this latest Russian reaction, it will become even MORE crucial for the rulers of the consolidated West to convince their serfs that Russia is losing and the West winning.

Since the western ruling classes know that time is running out (both militarily AND economically) they are desperately trying to conceal this by vociferously proclaiming that the Russian “field negros” will get punished (lynched!) for their audacity in disobeying the Great Masters of the Universe.

I want to note here that this mini-mobilization will have an important psychological effect upon Russian society: the “business as usual” mindset is now clearly obsolete.  The Russian MIC has received a direct message that it is now also “mobilized”.  The rest of the Russian economy will take notice, I am sure.  As will the people.  I welcome that “change of tone” very much.

Anyway, I will conclude with a few short items.

Some trolls have constantly been begging me to “show them the bodies”.  Okay, I found a Telegram channel with enough bodies to, hopefully, satisfy them: https://t.me/ZLOIORK

Next, the Poles have already threatened to conduct their own referendum in western Ukraine.  Who would have doubted that the Hyena of Europe will bite off a little morsel of Ukraine for itself (especially one which did belong to Poland historically?).

In the meantime, Armenia has threatened to leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a decision which, if that happens, I will fully support and celebrate!  The CSTO needs a good cleaning, to put it mildly.  Russia saved the sorry asses of Lukashenko, Tokaev and Pashinian, and yet all three are still playing that wannabe smart-ass policy of “multi-vectors” which, in plain English, means “we want Russia to protect us while we sell out to the USA”.  The truth is that Russia has much better partners than most of her immediate neighbors and the likes of Lukashenko, Tokaev and Pashinian need to learn things the hard way.  That is what Armenia is experiencing right now.  Maybe Lukashenko and Tokaev will get the message and learn the lesson.  As for Armenia, it will just get what it deserves…

In sharp contrast to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran and even Turkey have been much more responsible partners for Russia (though Turkey also needs a “reminder” from time to time to behave).  And since now the Armenians have “security guarantees” from no less than Pelosi (!) they can now sleep in peace with no need for Russian protection, right?  😆

As for the City on the Hill, the world's Sole Superpower, it is busy with nonsense like this: “Unexpectedly, the USAF Finds Itself With a Critical Shortage of Pilots While It Says It Has Too Many White Officers“.  As the French like to say, the more things change, the more they remain the same…

On a more personal note, we now have almost 1000 commentators who signed up.  Thank you all for taking the time to do so!  The comments section is already showing clear signs of improvement (already much fewer trolls/idiots than in the past).

That’s it on my end.  Now I turn the comments section over to you.

Cheers

—Andrei

UPDATE: Russian sources are reporting that western PSYOPs are actively spreading FUD all over the Russian Internet with all sorts of nonsense about the partial mobilization.  Hardly a surprise, so please try not to fall for this nonsense.

PS: The clueless Russian 5th column tried to organize some protests against this mini-mobilization.  The outcome? 364 people arrested.  96 is Saint Petersburg, 89 in Moscow and 45 in Ekaterinburg.  Which gives you a good idea of how utterly irrelevant the 5th column has become in Russia (except in the circles of power where Atlantic Integrationists are still hiding waiting for better times).

Here is a photo of Alexander Belik, the coordinator (while Navalny is in jail for fraud) of the “movement of conscientious objectors”.  I don’t think I need to comment about this 😉

The President signed an Executive Order Declaring Partial Mobilisation in the Russian Federation.

As per federal laws No. 61-FZ On Defence, dated May 31, 1996, and No. 31-FZ On Mobilisation Preparations and Mobilisation in the Russian Federation, dated February 26, 1997, and Federal Law No. 53-FZ On the Military Duty and Military Service, dated March 28, 1998, the President declared a partial mobilisation in the Russian Federation as of September 21, 2022.

The Executive Order provides for calling up citizens of the Russian Federation for service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as part of the mobilisation effort. Citizens of the Russian Federation called up for military service as part of mobilisation will enjoy the status of military personnel serving in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation under contract.

The Executive Order sets forth money allowances for the citizens of the Russian Federation called up for military service as part of mobilisation, as well as the duration of the military service contracts signed by the military personnel, grounds for discharging military personnel serving under contract, as well as citizens called up for military service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as part of mobilisation.

Corresponding instructions have been issued to the Government of the Russian Federation and top government officials in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Under the Executive Order, citizens of the Russian Federation employed by defence companies will benefit from an exemption from the mobilisation draft for the period of their employment by these organisations. The Government of the Russian Federation shall define the categories of citizens of the Russian Federation who have the right to draft exemptions and the manner in which these exemptions shall be provided.

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