Russia arrests over 1,300 as anti-war protests erupt over Putin's partial military call-up

More than 1,300 radical person been arrested successful Russia pursuing President Vladimir Putin's call-up of other forces to combat successful Ukraine, according to autarkic quality rights radical OVD-Info.

Around 1,307 radical were reportedly detained successful 39 cities crossed the state arsenic of Thursday morning, with the largest numbers arrested successful the superior metropolis of Moscow (at slightest 527) and St. Petersburg (at slightest 480).

Nearly 50 radical were arrested successful the country's fourth-largest metropolis of Yekaterinburg, portion dozens were besides detained successful respective Siberian cities.

Prices of one-way flights retired of Russia surged aft Putin's announcement and images connected social media appeared to amusement agelong queues astatine borderline posts.

Putin connected Wednesday delivered a uncommon prerecorded televised code to bid a partial militarization of reservists to bolster forces successful Ukraine, a profoundly unpopular determination that sparked nationwide protests contempt Russia's harsh laws against criticizing the subject and the warfare successful Ukraine.

Russia has not yet declared warfare connected Ukraine, contempt having invaded successful February, and it calls its penetration a "special subject operation."

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the mobilization of troops would spot 300,000 further unit called up to service successful the subject run successful Ukraine.

Russia's Interior Ministry said servicemen of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs took "additional measures" to respond to the anti-war protests and to "ensure nationalist order."

"Complications of the operational concern person been prevented," the ministry said successful a statement.

"In a fig of regions, attempts were made to transportation retired unauthorized actions, which gathered an highly tiny fig of participants. All of them were stopped, and the persons who committed offenses were detained and taken to the territorial constabulary units for probe and prosecution."

In what was wide interpreted arsenic an escalatory address, Putin warned the West helium was prepared to usage each disposable means to support Russian territory. His remarks were seen arsenic a thinly veiled menace that helium was prepared to usage atomic weapons.

Putin has alluded to Russia's atomic weaponry astatine assorted points during the struggle with Ukraine. Still, determination are doubts implicit whether Moscow would really edifice to deploying specified a weapon, with analysts saying it could beryllium equivalent to starting a 3rd satellite war.

U.S. President Joe Biden condemned Putin's menace to usage atomic weapons and urged allied U.N. leaders to cull Russia's penetration of Ukraine.

Speaking astatine the U.N. office successful New York City, Biden accused the Kremlin of making "reckless" and "irresponsible" threats and said, "a atomic warfare cannot beryllium won and indispensable ne'er beryllium fought."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly said connected Wednesday successful an interrogation with Germany's Bild online tv transmission that helium didn't judge the satellite would let Putin to usage atomic weapons.

— CNBC's Holly Ellyatt contributed to this report.