As the partial mobilization was announced by President Putin for the war in Ukraine, Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church urged not to consider Ukrainians enemies. He calls the war an "interpersonal strife." He has also noted that he "prays for the reunification of the peoples of Holy Russia."
Ukrayinska Pravda reported this citing the Russian propaganda news agency RIA Novosti.
"We know what danger is looming over the Ukrainian people, which they are trying to reformat, from a part of Holy United Rus to make a state that is opposed to this Russia, hostile to Russia. But despite this, it is very important that this feeling does not arise in our hearts that the enemy is there," Kirill said.
On the morning of September 21, in an address to the Russians, Putin announced the partial mobilization of the country's citizens. According to Putin, only citizens who are in reserve will be subject to conscription. They will receive additional training taking into account the war in Ukraine. According to the decree, mobilization begins on September 21.
Russia has long been conducting a covert mobilization. The authorities of the aggressor state continue to avoid calling a full-scale war against Ukraine a war.