'Everything is still according to the plan, right?': Ukrainian official reacts to partial military mobilization in Russia

By Burak Dag

ANKARA (AA) - Russians who wanted the destruction of Ukraine ended up getting mobilization, a Ukrainian official said on Wednesday, reacting to the Russian president's announcement regarding the war that started in February.

"On the 210th day of the 'three-day war,' Russians who demanded the destruction of Ukraine" ended up getting mobilization, closed borders, blocking of bank accounts and prison for desertion, Mykhailo Podolyak, Ukraine's senior presidential adviser, tweeted.

Taking a jibe, he added: "Everything is still according to the plan, right? Life has a great sense of humor."

Earlier on Wednesday, Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization in Russia, saying; "I consider it necessary to support the proposal of the Defense Ministry and the General Staff to declare partial mobilization in the Russian Federation."

Russian citizens between ages 18 and 50 fall under military mobilization, and they will be paid as much as the military personnel serving under contract, according to the decree published on the Kremlin website.

Sergei Shoigu, Russia's defense minister, said the mobilization is being carried out to control "already liberated territories" and some 300,000 reservists will be called up.