As dissatisfaction grows with the often chaotic mobilization of Russian conscripts to revitalize the military offensive in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin resigned himself to a slight act of contrition on Thursday, September 29, by acknowledging oddities in the convocation process.
“This mobilization raises many questions. We must correct all errors and ensure that they do not happen again”admitted the Russian president during a meeting by videoconference with his Security Council, broadcast on national television.
Mr. Putin mentioned the summoning of fathers of large families, people suffering from serious illnesses or even very old people, all cases which should be exempted under the law. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had already admitted on Monday “errors” in this mobilization, supposed to concern 300,000 reservists with military experience or useful skills, such as truck drivers.
“If a mistake has been made, it must be corrected and those who have been summoned without a proper reason returned home”stressed Mr. Putin. “People called up for military service must undergo additional military training before being sent to the units”also declared the Russian head of state during this meeting.
The mobilization has triggered numerous demonstrations in Russia since its announcement on September 21. More than 2,400 people were arrested during these parades, according to the specialized organization OVD-Info. Many Russians have also chosen to flee the country, causing long queues at the borders of Georgia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Finland. Air flights were also taken by storm.
The independence of Zaporizhia and Kherson recognized by Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin assured Thursday that the offensive he launched against Ukraine on February 24 was one of the results of the“Collapse of the Soviet Union”, just like the conflicts simmering in other places in the vast space of the former USSR. He assured that a “more just world order” was forming through “a difficult process”.
In addition, in decrees published Thursday evening, the Russian president recognized the independence of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia and Kherson, a preliminary step to their annexation. Russia had already recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions at the end of February. Mr. Putin will thus formalize, on Friday, in Moscow, the annexation by Russia of these four regions occupied in part or totally by Russian forces, after the referendums organized from September 24 to 27 in these territories. Russia already annexed Crimea, a peninsula in southern Ukraine, in 2014.
For its part, the United Nations (UN) Security Council will vote on Friday on a resolution condemning these “referendums” of annexation. The draft text prepared by the United States and Albania, and seen by Agence France-Presse (AFP), calls on all States and other organizations “not to recognize an alleged annexation” of the four regions by Russia. It also demands that Moscow “stop immediately” his invasion of Ukraine and “withdraw immediately, completely and unconditionally all its military forces” from the country.
The text has no chance of being adopted because of the Russian right of veto. And if Moscow uses its right of veto ” to protect himself “, “then we will turn to the General Assembly to send an unambiguous message to Moscow”US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Tuesday.
China’s position carefully considered
If the Russian veto is not in doubt, it is above all the position of China, sometimes accused by Westerners of being too conciliatory with Russia, which will be examined with attention. Beijing, officially neutral, this week repeated its call for respect for territorial integrity ” From all countries “.
India’s position will also be closely monitored. The two countries had abstained in February in the aftermath of the Russian invasion, when Russia had vetoed in the Council a resolution denouncing its ” assault “ from Ukraine.
The subsequent vote in the General Assembly, where none of the 193 member states has a veto, will allow him to gauge Russia’s degree of isolation, as some developing countries fret that the West concentrates all its attention on Ukraine.
In the spring, the General Assembly had voted three resolutions concerning the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the third at the end of April having resulted in an erosion of international unity vis-à-vis Moscow. “But by putting annexation and territorial integrity on the table, Putin will force many hesitant states back into the Ukraine camp”in particular certain African States, foresees Richard Gowan, analyst within the NGO International Crisis Group.