President Vladimir Putin has announced a partial military mobilisation of his nation’s armed forces
In a televised address, President Vladimir Putin has called on Russia’s armed reserves and forces to join the war in Ukraine.
Mr Putin described the decision as a “necessary” step to “protect our homeland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
The president said a decree on partial mobilisation has already been signed, and preparations are underway.
“Only those citizens who are in the reserve and, above all, those who served in the armed forces, have certain military specialties and relevant experience, will be subject to conscription.”
VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA
The decision follows Russian lawmakers approving a suite of tough measures as the war in Ukraine ticks over six months of conflict.
Mr Putin said citizens who are in the nation’s reserves and have previously served in the armed forces are subject to the orders.
The Russian leader maintains the war is a special military operation, which is designed to de-Nazify Ukraine.
But NATO allies, the United Nations and humanitarian groups have called out Moscow for alleged war crimes.
The war has claimed the lives of over 10,000 people. Mass grave sites have also been discovered with over 400 Ukrainians buried in the Izium region.
What does this mean?
Mr Putin said people who are living in the occupied regions do not want to be under the “yoke of neo-Nazis”.
He said Kyiv is refusing a peaceful solution to the crisis.
The Russian leader added Ukraine has nuclear weapons and his nation is acting in response to these claims.
Moscow is planning to hold so-called referendums in the occupied parts of Ukraine later this week.
Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Mr Putin may be seeking an end to the war, and that a “significant step” will be made in the coming days.
The Turkish leader believes things are “quite problematic” for Russia at the moment, and he has gained the impression Moscow wants a speedy end to the war.
How has the west responded?
The U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink has described the upcoming referenda as a “sham”.
Sham referenda and mobilization are signs of weakness, of Russian failure. The United States will never recognize Russia's claim to purportedly annexed Ukrainian territory, and we will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
Australia experienced two of its worst cyber attacks on record last year, as the world braces for cyber warfare to rise
Ukraine has suffered a threefold growth in cyber-attacks over the past year.
Viktor Zhora is leading Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection agency, who said cyber attacks are occurring at the same time as missile strikes at the hands of Russia.
Mr Zhora said in some cases, the cyber-attacks are “supportive to kinetic effects”.
On the other side of the planet, Russian hackers were responsible for Australia’s Medibank scandal.
“This is a crime that has the potential to impact on millions of Australians and damage a significant Australian business,” said Reece Kershaw, who is the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police.
Australian Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security is James Paterson, who said Australia can learn from cyber warfare in Ukraine.
“Ukraine is a lesson for the world.
“They are fighting a hybrid war, one on the ground and one online. If there is to be future conflict including in our own region, in the Indo-Pacific, it’s highly likely that the first shots in that war will occur cyber domain not in the physical world,” Senator Paterson said.
Former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr says the United States relationship with China is focused on dominance, leadership and primacy.
“Mind your own business” – it’s the stinging message to the West from China’s defence minister.
Li Shangfu told a security conference that China has “one of the best peace records” among major countries.
He lashed out at the so-called rules-based system. Asking – “who made the rules?”
The world is watching China amidst heightened international anxiety.
But while China’s Defence minister says Beijing’s preference is “peaceful unification” with Taiwan, he added that China will never “promise to renounce the use of force.”
Delegates from the Philippines, Vietnam, the Netherlands, the United States and Germany asked about the “apparent disconnect between China’s words and actions”.
But in some of those countries, there is growing concern about America’s increasing level of unpredictability.
Australia’s former Foreign minister Bob Carr is concerned that Canberra had mismanaged the relationship with America under successive governments. #featured #world #china