Protests broke out across Russia yesterday after President Vladimir Putin announced a decree on the “partial” mobilization of reserves to support Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Small groups of activists protested in cities across Russia and in front of Russian embassies and consulates abroad, including in Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk. As of Wednesday evening, monitoring site OVD-Info reported over 1250 protestors had been detained across Russia, the vast majority in Moscow (468) and St. Petersburg (490).
Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the partial mobilization would see 300,000 reservists called up and only apply to those with previous military experience. In his televised address, Putin said he aimed to „liberate” eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, claiming that most people in areas under Russian control did not want to be ruled by Kyiv, according to Reuters.
In addition to warning that Russia had “lots of weapons to reply” to what he described as “Western threats,” Putin assured the Russian public that he would “do everything to ensure safe conditions for the ‘referendums’” scheduled to be held in occupied areas of Ukraine beginning tomorrow.
The US State Department warned on Tuesday that Russia would face „increased consequences” if it moves forward with plans to annex additional parts of Ukraine. According to Oleksandr Plodystyi, consul of Ukraine in Gdańsk, such measures could include the complete exclusion of Russian banking from the SWIFT system, the designation of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, and the removal of Russia from international organizations such as the UN Security Council.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland, PAP
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday accused Russia of attempting to erase Ukraine from the map and of violating the core tenets of United Nations membership.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Biden condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for making “reckless” and “irresponsible” threats to use nuclear weapons and “shamelessly violat[ing] the core tenets of the United Nations Charter.”
“Putin claims he had to act because Russia was threatened, but no one threatened Russia, and no one other than Russia sought conflict,” Biden explained during his speech. He went on to describe the current war in Ukraine as an attempt by Russia “to exting[uish] Ukraine’s right to exist as a state…and Ukraine’s right to exist as a people.”
“We will stand in solidarity against Russia’s aggression, period,” he finished.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
Some 250 pieces of luggage left behind during a Wizz Air flight from Kutaisi, Georgia, to Gdańsk airport earlier this week have finally been returned to their owners.
The travelers were informed of their missing baggage only after disembarking from the plane, which was more than two hours late. One passenger thanked Radio Gdańsk for bringing attention to the matter, which eventually resulted in the missing baggage being returned “intact and undamaged” via courier.
In an official statement, Wizz Air apologized to passengers for the inconvenience, claiming the bags had not been loaded onto the plane at Kutaisi airport “for operational reasons.”
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Local residents are encouraged to “go green” by riding mass transit today in observance of European Car-Free Day.
As part of today’s celebrations, residents who are the owners or co-owners of passenger cars in Pomerania will be able to use public transport like ZTM and ZKM, along with Polregio and SKM trains, completely free of charge.
Passengers traveling from Gdynia and Wejherowo should be prepared to present a valid registration document during ticket inspection, while holders of an active Gdańsk Resident Card (with a saved Resident’s Package, valid for the current year) will also be able to use local transit for free.
The idea for Car-Free Day was born in 1998 in France with the goal of influencing pro-ecological behavior by convincing Europeans to use alternative means of transport, thus proving that life in the city is possible without four wheels.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be partly cloudy, with a chance for rain showers in the early morning and a light breeze coming in from the north. Temperatures will stay on the cool side, with a high of 14°C, or 57°F, dropping to a low of 7°C or 45°F overnight. Cool temps and cloudy weather will remain through tomorrow, with a chance for warmer temps and clearer skies over the weekend.
Elizabeth Peck/am
