Russia Mobilizes, Referendums Underway: What Will Change and Why?

Update on Russian military operations in Ukraine for September 23, 2022

– Russia to mobilize 300,000 in addition to 150,000 already involved in operations in Ukraine;

– Russian Ministry of Defense announces nearly 6,000 Russian dead, 61,000 Ukrainian dead plus another 49,000 Ukrainians injured;

– Russian MoD claims Ukraine has mobilized 300,000 itself, losing 100,000 meaning it now faces some 450,000 Russian forces in the coming weeks and months;

– Referendums in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Lugansk to join the Russian Federation means future operations will significantly expand in intensity, quantity, and quality;

– This major escalation follows two very expensive offensives launched by Ukraine in what appears to have been an “all or nothing” move; 

References:

President of Russia – Article by Vladimir Putin “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” (July 2021):
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president…

Michael Kofman (Twitter) – Thread on Mobilization:
https://twitter.com/KofmanMichael/sta…

TIME – Why Russian Support for the War in Ukraine Hasn’t Wavered (August 2022):
https://time.com/6208238/why-russian-…

National Endowment for Democracy (NED) – RUSSIA: POLLING FOR DEMOCRACY, THE YURI LEVADA ANALYTICAL CENTER:
https://www.ned.org/democracy-story/r…

Washington Post – Wounded Ukrainian soldiers reveal steep toll of Kherson offensive:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/…

Sky News – Russian reserves are not trained for war – and Putin’s escalation could be ‘extremely dangerous’, military expert says:
https://news.sky.com/story/russian-re…

Other sources covering the Russian mobilization: The Duran – Point of no return w/Garland Nixon (Live) (includes comments on mobilization & prisoner exchange):
https://youtu.be/gP5IHoegHMo

iEarlGrey – Mobilization Reaction. 300k Reserves To Ukraine. Flights Out Of Russia Sold Out:
https://youtu.be/A8XOy6R2-gk

Mark Sleboda on Sputnik Radio – Putin’s National Address on Russian mobilization and referendums on joining Russia in east and south Ukraine:
https://marksleboda.substack.com/p/in…

Gonzalo Lira – The Roundtable #22: Alex Christoforou, Larry Johnson, The New Atlas (on Mobilization and more):
https://youtu.be/gfz4WeN8cEs