Russian President Vladimir Putin said in today’s televised address that he ordered a partial mobilization in the country that starts today. “We will use all resources to defend our people.” The West has crossed all the limits of its aggression against Russia,” Putin said, saying his goal was to “liberate” eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region and that most people in that region did not want to return to what he called the “yoke” of Ukraine.

“We have no right to give up on these people,” Putin said, adding that he had ordered the government to give legal status to volunteers fighting in Donbas and find funds to increase weapons production. The Russian president has accused the West of engaging in nuclear blackmail against Russia.

“Our goal is the liberation of Donbass. “The West has shown that it does not want peace between Ukraine and Russia,” said Putin.