I am not going to die for Putin
»»Chaos as protesters defy Moscow’s call-up »»Sham polls spark nukes reprisal fears
A MAN shot a Russian military draft official yesterday as the backlash continued at Vladimir Putin’s call-up.
Another conscript screamed that he refused “to die for Putin” as he was dragged away by security service thugs.
More than 2,000 arrests have been made as chaos, violence and a border exodus blighted the president’s “mass mobilisation” of 300,000 men to fight in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, rifle-toting Russian troops forced Ukrainians to take part in sham referendums aimed at enabling Moscow to snatch four regions of the country.
Tyrant Putin is expected to illegally take over an area the size of Hungary and call up locals after voting ends today.
In Melitopol, in Zaporizhzhia – one of the regions – exiled mayor Ivan Fedorov said: “Residents are frightened, panicking. They know what will happen and when people will start being called up.”
DRAGGED
There are fears the polls could be used to justify combating Ukraine’s counteroffensive with nuclear weapons.
In Novosibirsk, Siberia, the protester was dragged away screaming: “I am not going to die for Putin, or for you!”
In Ust-ilimisk, Irkutsk Oblast, a draft official was injured after a suspect named as Ruslan Zinin, 25, opened fire.
And a man tried to set himself on fire in Ryazan, 115 miles south east of Moscow.
More than 55,000 Russian troops are said to have died in Ukraine and Moscow has failed to keep a lid on the horror.
Up to 17,000 Russians fled to Finland over the weekend, 80% more than the week before.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan vowed to respond to any use of nuclear weapons by the Kremlin.
He warned: “If Russia crosses this line there will be catastrophic consequences for Russia.”
news@irishmirror.ie
If they cross the nuclear weapons line it’ll be a catastrophe for Russia JAKE SULLIVAN
US OFFICIAL