Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a partial mobilisation in Russia is a "worrying escalation," a Foreign Office minister has said.
Gillian Keegan also urged for calm in the face of Putin 's threat in his speech to use nuclear weapons.
Putin warned the West that Russia would use all the means at its disposal to protect its territory, saying: "It's not a bluff." He accused the West in engaging in "nuclear blackmail" and noted "statements of some high-ranking representatives of the leading Nato states about the possibility of using nuclear weapons of mass destruction against Russia".
Keegan told Sky News: "Some of the language there was quite concerning at the end and obviously we would urge for calm. It's something that we should take very seriously because, you know, we're not in control.
"I'm not sure he's in control either really. I mean, this is obviously an escalation and, of course, for the Russian people now they will be conscripted into this war."
Melinda Simmons, the UK's ambassador to Ukraine, tweeted: "Watched Putin's speech. He still refuses to understand Ukraine. Partial mobilisation and sham referenda don't change that essential weakness."
During his address to the nation in Moscow, Putin appeared to threaten the "destruction" of its neighbour if the "territorial integrity of our country is threatened".
He added: "To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for separate components and more modern than those of Nato countries, and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal."
Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu later said 300,000 reservists will be mobilised. Putin's address to the nation comes a day after Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes on becoming integral parts of Russia.
The Kremlin-backed efforts to swallow up four regions could set the stage for Moscow to escalate the war following recent Ukrainian successes on the battlefield.
The referendums will start on Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk areas. Putin said he has signed a decree on the partial mobilisation, which is due to start on Wednesday.
He said: "We are talking about partial mobilisation, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and above all, those who served in the armed forces have a certain military specialty and relevant experience."
The Russian leader said the decision to partially mobilise was "fully adequate to the threats we face, namely to protect our homeland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, to ensure the security of our people and people in the liberated territories."
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