Vladimir Putin is rushing through new laws which are likely to pave the way for mobilisation in Russia.
On Tuesday, Russia‘s parliament approved a bill to toughen punishments for crimes such as desertion, damage to military property and noncompliance if they are committed during military mobilisation or combat situations.
The bill, passed in its second and third readings on Tuesday by the Duma, comes as Russia seem poised to implement mobilisation, which would significantly escalate the conflict in Ukraine.
The Russian parliament gave initial approval for introducing the concepts of ‘mobilisation’ and ‘wartime’ into the country’s Criminal Code.
This follows intense pressure on Putin from hardliners to declare war, instead of a special military operation as they have been calling it, and mobilise men of military age to join the army.
“Judging by what is happening and what is about to happen, this week marks either the eve of our imminent victory or the eve of nuclear war,” leading propagandist Margarita Simonyan said.
According to a copy of the bill, seen by Reuters, voluntary surrender would become a crime for Russian military personnel, punishable by 10 years in prison.
Failure to comply with an order during martial law will be punished by imprisonment for a term of two to three years.
Lawyer Pavel Chikov said the package shows Putin is introducing the concepts of "mobilisation", "martial law" and "wartime" in the Criminal Code.
A second reading for the new legislation has been scheduled for today.
Pressure has been building on Putin over mobilisation after a string of military failures.
There are claims that Putin’s circle are deeply divided over any move to force men into the army and to the frontline in the war.
They believe it could be a tipping point triggering opposition and leading to Putin’s demise.
One claim is that Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov is “categorically against” mobilisation.
While such moves do not have the force of law, it means an intensification of efforts to recruit soldiers.
Political expert Dmitry Oreshkin said: “What is happening in Ukraine is unequivocally interpreted as a military defeat. Holes need to be filled, and if so, then you need more cannon fodder.
“The regime cannot do without mobilisation in one form or another.”
Powerful Putin ally Kadyrov, the Chechen leader, said a week ago in words that now seem prophetic: “If you ask me, my opinion as Ramzan Kadyrov, I would declare martial law, I would declare mobilisation.
“We must not wait for the leadership of the state to declare mobilisation, we must all mobilise, each region must give the forces and means that it has."
The news comes as Russian-installed officials in the Kherson region of Ukraine have decided to hold a referendum on joining Russia.
Margarita Simonovna Simonyan, a top Russian propagandist, says referendums in the Russian-occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions will be held in three days.
In another tweet, she says we're either on the edge of Russia's victory or the edge of nuclear war.
