Putin and Shoigu Announce Partial Mobilization, Address Referendums in Donbass, Kherson & Zaporozhye

The Donbass republics as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions have announced their intention to hold referendums on joining Russia. The vote is scheduled for September 23-27.

Sputnik goes live as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu are addressing the nation on September 21.

The president announced a partial mobilization in Russia to defend "our motherland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity," saying that the armed forces are fighing against Nazi units in Ukraine, as well as the collective West's "war machine."

The president also said that he would support the outcome of the referendums announced by the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions on joining Russia.

Putin's speech was followed by an address by Defense Minister Shoigu, who provided more details about the special military operation in Ukraine, and how the partial mobilization will unfold:

LPR head Leonid Pasechnik has stressed that the vote, which is set for September 23-27, cannot be delayed due to continued bombardments of the civilian population by the Kiev regime, which uses NATO-supplied weapons. DPR leader Denis Pushilin, for his part, pointed out that the DPR joining Russia will restore "historical justice."

Putin recognized the DPR and LPR's independence on February 21, 2022, three days before the launch of the special military operation to protect the Donbass population, "who have been subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years."