Putin this morning announced an immediate partial mobilisation of 300,000 reservists and threatened to nuke Ukraine. He avoided ordering an unpopular mass conscription by specifying only reservists with training and experience would be called to join up. Menacingly Putin said in the pre-recorded television address “To defend Russia and our people, we doubtlessly will use all resources at our disposal… This is not a bluff.” Which is an unsubtle nuclear threat, though most Western governments do think he’s bluffing…

UPDATE: Defence Secretary Ben Wallace responds:

“President Putin’s breaking of his own promises not to mobilise parts of his population and the illegal annexation of parts of Ukraine, are an admission that his invasion is failing. He and his Defence Minister have sent tens of thousands of their own citizens to their deaths, ill equipped and badly led. No amount of threats and propaganda can hide the fact that Ukraine is winning this war, the international community are united and Russia is becoming a global pariah.”