is a partial mobilization. putin also made an ominous pledge to use all means to, in his words, defend his country. translator: this is not a bluff. the citizens of russia can be sure that the territorial integrity of our homeland, independence and freedom will be ensured and those that try to black mail us with nuclear weapons should know that the prevailing winds can turn in their direction. reporter: putin s rare national address comes amid a fierce counter offensive from ukraine s forces and the kremlin-backed push for referendums that could lead to moscow annexing occupied parts of ukraine. let s go to cnn s international security editor nick peyton walsh. nick, a partial mobilization. i mean, this sounds pretty drastic but could putin have gone even further? reporter: yes, certainly could have. this is not the mass mobilization which many during the 12-hour delay before the speech came out this morning were thinking might have been on the cards. he is, it seems,
gone even further? reporter: yes, certainly could have. this is not the mass mobilization which many during the 12-hour delay before the speech came out this morning were thinking might have been on the cards. he is, it seems, going to be looking towards a pool of at least what the defense minister called 300,000 people potentially at the start of individuals who served in the army, who have relevant military experience or other specialized skills. that is interesting because it does seem there are a lot of people who have been served have been called upon to try to solve the drastic manpower crisis that russia has been facing where mercenary groups are going into prisons and asking prisoners to go to the front line in exchange for an amnesty. it is unclear at this point this partial mobilization stresses this is not about taking students out of university or taking ordinary con stripts yet