Russia has lots of weapons: Putin

Special Desk

Since world war II it appears to be the biggest escalation of the Ukraine war since Moscow’s February 24 invasion as Russian President Vladimir Putin called up three-lakh reservists to fight in Ukraine.

In an address to the Russians Putin said, “If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will use all available means to protect our people – this is not a bluff. Russia had lots of weapons to reply.” And backed a plan to annex parts of the country, hinting to the West he was prepared to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia.

Ukraine and its Western allies responded by saying the move showed Russia’s campaign in Ukraine was failing. The allies pledged further support for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government.

Russia’s Defence Minister said the partial mobilisation would see 3,00,000 reservists with previous military experience called up. Putin said the partial mobilisation of its 2 million-strong military reservists was to defend Russia and its territories. West did not want peace in Ukraine, he said.

He accused Washington, London and Brussels of pushing Kyiv to “transfer military operations to our territory”. Ukraine has sporadically struck targets inside Russia throughout the conflict, using long-range weapons supplied by the West.

“Nuclear blackmail has also been used,” Putin said, citing Ukraine’s Zaporozhzhia nuclear power plant.

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of endangering the plant in the fighting. Russia said a large-caliber shell had damaged a technical water pipe at the plant, which is occupied by Russian troops.

Putin also accused officials of NATO countries of making statements about the possibility and admissibility of using weapons of mass destruction against Russia –nuclear weapons. “I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and in some components more modern than those of the NATO countries,” he said.