Russian police arrest hundreds of protesters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is promising three protections to Russian soldiers who willingly surrender. Zelensky’s offer comes as Vladimir Putin announced plans to call up 300,000 reservists to replenish the troops who have died in battle. Zelensky delivered his offer directly to Russians as he made his nightly video address.
Zelensky addressed them in Russian. He said every Russian soldier who surrenders is guaranteed three protections.
Zelensky told Russians that Russian commanders don’t care about the lives of their soldiers; they just have to “fill empty spaces left by the dead, wounded, those who fled or those who were captured.” He appealed to those who are reluctant to sign on to fighting. And, he emphasized that Ukraine will liberate all of its territories, including Crimea.
Last week, Putin announced a mobilization of 300,000 military reservists. In the mobilization decree, there was a secret reference that allows the Ministry of Defense to call up one million people.
