Preparations underway for voting in four regions of Ukraine under Moscow’s control; Ukraine president tells Russians facing mobilisation to protest, fight back or run away
- Russia-Ukraine war latest: what we know on day 212 of the invasion
- ‘It’s a 100% mobilisation’: day one of Russia’s drive to build its army
In Moscow, our correspondent Andrew Roth has been documenting the aftermath of Putin’s announcement that Russia would begin conscripting its citizens to fight in the invasion of Ukraine.
Summons delivered to eligible men at midnight. Schoolteachers pressed into handing out draft notices. Men given an hour to pack their things and appear at draft centres. Women sobbing as they sent their husbands and sons off to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The first full day of Russia’s first mobilisation since the second world war produced emotional showdowns at draft centres and even signs of protest, while it appears Russia could be considering far more than the 300,000 new conscripts claimed by the defence minister, Sergei Shoigu.
