The Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that training for newly deployed reservists had begun across Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered the country’s first military deployment since World War II, announcing the partial callup of 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine.
- Russian men try to leave the country after Putin’s summons
2 of 9 Russian military addresses reservists at a meeting point in the Russian city of Volzhsky — Photo: Portal/Stringer
A Russian soldier speaks to reservists at a meeting point in the Russian city of Volzhsky (Photo: Portal/Stringer)
Reservist training
Russian reservists are blessed and begin training
According to the Ministry, the training takes place at three locations:
- Rostov, on the border with Ukraine
- Crimea, region taken over from Ukraine in 2014
- Kaliningrad, on the border with Poland and Lithuania, NATO member states
“Citizens called up from the reserve are restoring their skills in the operation and maintenance of weapons, military and special equipment,” the ministry said in a statement.
Around 2,000 reservists had already received weapons in Crimea.
In Rostov, where Russian troops were gathering before invading Ukraine on February 24, the ministry said all staff “were already in the necessary clothing, received weapons and had started shooting in training.”
Training at the Baltic Fleet base began in Kaliningrad, where Russia’s large military presence includes nuclearcapable missiles.
Below are more photos of the mobilization:
3 of 9 Russian reservist says goodbye to relatives before leaving for military base — Photo: Portal/Stringer
Russian reservist says goodbye to relatives before heading to military base (Picture: Portal/Stringer)
4 of 9 A Russian army officer holds military ID cards as reservists gather at a meeting point in the Russian city of Volzhsky (Photo: Portal/Stringer)
A Russian army officer holds military ID cards as reservists gather at a meeting point in the Russian city of Volzhsky (Photo: Portal/Stringer)
5 of 9 Russian reservists board a bus at a meeting point in the Russian city of Volzhsky — Photo: Portal/Stringer
Russian reservists board a bus at a meeting point in the Russian city of Volzhsky (Photo: Portal/Stringer)
6 of 9 Russian reservist says goodbye before leaving for a military base — Photo: Portal/Stringer
Russian reservist says goodbye before leaving for a military base (Picture: Portal/Stringer)
7 out of 9 relatives and acquaintances of Russian reservists watch their departure from Volzhsky, Russia — Photo: Portal/Stringer
Relatives and acquaintances of the Russian reservists watch their departure in Volschsky, Russia Photo: Portal/Stringer
8 out of 9 Russian reservists are registered at a meeting point in the city of Volzhsky, Russia — Photo: Portal/Stringer
Russian reservists are registered at a meeting point in the city of Volzhsky, Russia — Photo: Portal/Stringer
9 out of 9 priest douses Russian reservists with holy water during a farewell ceremony in the Russian city of Volzhsky — Photo: Portal/Stringer
A priest pours holy water on Russian reservists during a farewell ceremony in the Russian city of Volzhsky.