“Putin’s appeal” about mobilization was broadcast on the radio in a number of regions

In the Rostov, Voronezh, and Belgorod regions, several radio stations on the air on the morning of June 5 broadcast a text about the alleged martial law and general mobilization introduced in Russia, stylized as the address of President Vladimir Putin.

Videos with “conversion” appeared on social networks.

“Russians, brothers and sisters,” says the announcer, whose voice and intonation are similar to Putin’s. “Today at 4 a.m., Ukrainian troops armed to the teeth with the NATO bloc, with the consent and support of Washington, invaded the territory of the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions.” Further, the appeal states that martial law has been imposed on the territory of these regions, and residents are urged to evacuate. “Putin” also says that he will sign a decree on universal mobilization.

Local authorities called the appeal a fake and said that the situation is under control. How it got on the radio is unclear. The press secretary of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, also stated that Putin did not deliver the address. No one has yet taken responsibility for recording the video and broadcasting it.

• In recent days, shelling of Russian regions bordering Ukraine, primarily Belgorod, has intensified. However, martial law has not been imposed there, and the mandatory evacuation of the population has not been announced. Ukraine denies the participation of its servicemen in raids on Russian territory, which are carried out by volunteer formations of Russian citizens fighting on the side of Kyiv.
• Announcing the start of the so-called special operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Putin said that only professional military personnel would participate in it. However, in September, after a series of failures at the front, he announced the so-called partial mobilization, during which, according to official data, about 300,000 civilians were drafted into the army.