Russia is deploying 300,000 reservists after several setbacks in its invasion of Ukraine.

This morning, following several major setbacks and territory losses in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of the country’s armed forces to protect their occupied areas. He also announced a formal effort to annex these occupied territories, threatening nuclear deployment against those who oppose him.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu clarified that approximately 300,000 reservists will be summoned to fight. The official decree states that only men with formal combat training will be deployed, though anyone who is called upon to serve will not be allowed to leave their posts until the partial mobilization order is rescinded. Interestingly, following the decree, all civilian flights out of Russia to neighboring countries almost immediately sold out.

In response to Putin’s decree, western powers have been largely dismissive, calling it proof positive that the Russian invasion is definitively failing. “The United States will never recognize Russia’s claim to purportedly annexed Ukrainian territory, and we will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” said US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink.

John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, told ABC that Putin’s order is “a sign that he’s struggling, and we know that … clearly, manpower’s a problem for him, he feels like he’s on his back foot.”

“He and his defense minister have sent tens of thousands of their own citizens to their deaths, ill-equipped and badly led,” said British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace in a statement. “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.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that while he is fairly certain Russia’s nuclear threat is a bluff, it falls on Ukraine and its supporting countries, especially the US, to ensure it remains that way.