VLAD'S WRATH
VLADIMIR Putin fired off a terrifying nuke warning to Britain and the West yesterday, then declared: “This is not a bluff.”
The tyrant issued the threat as he forcibly drafted 300,000 reservists into his disastrous war in Ukraine.
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One of his advisers even made a direct threat that nuclear missiles could rain down on UK cities.
But the Doomsday talk and the first Russian troop mobilisation since World War Two failed to cow his enemies into submission.
US President Joe Biden blasted his “reckless” threats and accused him of “shamelessly violating core tenets” of the UN charter.
In an address to the UN General Assembly, Mr Biden said the US and its allies would continue to stand against Russia. He added the conflict was a “brutal needless war, a war chosen by one man, to be very blunt”.
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Also speaking in New York, PM Liz Truss dismissed Putin’s threats of nuclear war as just more “sabre rattling” to cover for his “catastrophic failures”.
She added: “He is desperately trying to claim the mantle of democracy for a regime without human rights or freedoms.
“And he is making yet more bogus claims and sabre-rattling threats. This will not work. Ukraine is strong.”
British former Nato Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Sir James Everard, said an extra 300,000 reserves was “unlikely to prove decisive”.
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He added: “If they are not sufficiently trained, integrated or equipped — or have the will to fight — they are going to struggle. Putin is grappling for every excuse he can think of to explain why things aren’t going to plan.”
Meanwhile, serious signs of panic and protest emerged among Putin’s people for the first time as one-way flights from Moscow sold out, and protests erupted on its streets.
Putin’s delayed address at 7am UK time — 9am in Russia — came amid more concern over his health and mental stability.
He banned all two million reservists from leaving yesterday while crazily accusing the West of blackmailing the world to the edge of nuclear armageddon.
Putin ranted: “Our country has various means of defence, and in some components more advanced than those of Nato countries.
“When the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will use all the means at our disposal to defend Russia and our people. This is not a bluff.
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“Russian citizens can be sure that the territorial integrity of our homeland, our independence and our freedom will be secured.
“Those who are trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the winds may blow in their direction.”
He claimed he was responding to threats from unnamed high Nato officials “about the possibility of using weapons of mass destruction against Russia”.
He then added, chillingly: “We have lots of weapons to reply.”
Putin has ordered sham referendums in four occupied Ukraine regions which are certain to return results confirming their people want to be part of Russia.
Analysts say he calculates the West will blink at his nuke threat — and will not back a Ukrainian attack to reclaim the “liberated territories” he has stolen.
He added in the pre-recorded address: “It is completely adequate to the level of threats we are facing. Namely, to protect our Motherland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity; to ensure safety of our people and people in the liberated territories.
“I find it necessary to support the suggestion of the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff to declare partial mobilisation.
“So it would only be current reservists, called to join the military service. First of all it would be those who served in the army, have relevant army specialty and experience. Those called will go through mandatory military training.”
BLUFFING TO BUY TIME
By Professor Michael Clarke, Defence analyst
WHEN Vladimir Putin says he is not bluffing it is best to assume that he is.
Putin claimed yesterday that the West was threatening Russia with nuclear weapons, insisting: “We have lots of weapons to reply — it is not a bluff.”
It was an effort to paint Russia as the victim but I believe he would have had his fingers crossed as he said it.
The outburst came as the Russian president announced a partial mobilisation of civilians in an attempt to change the course of his disastrous war with Ukraine.
He’s losing on the battlefield, been humiliated internationally and he has now opened a Pandora’s Box for his people.
The Russians have a reserve of two million people, most of whom have served in the military in the past five years.
If they mobilise them to fight in Ukraine it might make a difference — but not until next year.
That’s because they can’t train people quickly after taking all the instructors and a lot of the equipment to the front.
These people aren’t going to appear on the battlefield until the spring. They will be pulled out of civilian occupations which will be unpopular.
This announcement was postponed twice on Tuesday, indicating disagreement in the Kremlin. Russia will also hold sham referendums in occupied Ukraine.
It all smacks of desperation and Putin’s power has never been more fragile. Some sort of big upheaval in Russia is now not impossible.
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On BBC Radio 4’s Today, Putin ally Sergei Markov directly threatened the UK, saying: “Your cities will be targeted.” Asked if the announcement meant Putin was willing to start a nuclear war which would kill everyone, Markov ranted: “Not everyone but we can kill a lot of people in the western countries.”
Even ally China demanded a ceasefire “through dialogue and consultation” yesterday.
Turkey’s Recep Erdogan urged Putin to return all occupied land in Ukraine to its “rightful owners”, including President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Three key Kremlin figures were said to have threatened to resign over his troop boost decree which sets no limit on the number of civilians to be mobilised. Their opposition was said to have contributed to the 13-hour delay before his televised address. Putin was also reported to have suffered a coughing fit.
Plane tickets to countries where Russians do not need a visa sold out within hours of the speech.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Putin’s rant was proof that the despot was failing.
James Cleverly will shame Sergey Lavrov at a meeting of foreign ministers today.
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Britain will also meet with the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor who is leading the probe for war crimes.
"Russian citizens can be sure that the territorial integrity of our homeland, our independence and our freedom will be secured by all the means at our disposal
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