Russia Calls Up Army as West Decries Annexation Plans

Russia Calls Up Army as West Decries Annexation Plans
Russian President Vladimir Putin in Veliky Novgorod on Sept. 21, 2022. Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images
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Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial mobilization of the Russian army on Sept. 21, the first military call-up of its kind since World War II.

The announcement comes less than 24 hours after pro-Russian leaders in four Ukrainian provinces announced plans to hold referendums on leaving Ukraine to join the Russian Federation.