General mobilization in Donetsk; "It's not a bluff"; Moscow ready to protect Russians

The evacuation of civilians continues in Donetsk and Luhansk in anticipation of an attack by Ukrainian forces. On the other hand, Kiev claims that it does not intend to attack Donbass. Ukraine claims that Russia is preparing for an invasion, which has been announced for days by the President of the United States and NATO leaders.
U.S. President Joseph Biden said that he was convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made the decision to attack Ukraine, although there was still room for diplomacy, and that it would happen in the coming days.
Biden's statement followed a telephone conversation with the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Britain, the EU and NATO, the White House said.
On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree calling on Russian reservists for military training in 2022.

Putin and Lukashenko oversee nuclear exercises EPA-EFE/ALEXEI DRUZHININ/KREMLIN POOL

Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin will monitor the exercises of the Russian nuclear forces, within which the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles is planned.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the strategic deterrence exercises "are planned in advance to check the readiness of military command centers, launch combat teams, the crew of warships, missile carriers to carry out assigned missions, as well as the reliability of nuclear and conventional weapons."
The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said that he would participate in the monitoring of military exercises together with the Russian President.

Closed schools in Donetsk; mobilization of men aged 18 to 55 years