“Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists Wednesday, taking a risky and deeply unpopular step that follows humiliating setbacks for his troops nearly seven months after invading Ukraine … In his seven-minute nationally televised address, Putin also warned the West that he isn’t bluffing over using everything at his disposal to protect Russia — an apparent reference to his nuclear arsenal.” On one hand, it’s not so easy to remake a military after years of diverting defense spending to yachts and mansions and months of suffering humiliating losses on the battlefield. On the other hand, a cornered, desperate megalomaniac with a nuclear arsenal is a worrisome thing.

+ “‘Let us speak plainly: A permanent member of the United Nations Security Council invaded, attempted to erase the sovereign state from the map,’ Biden said, calling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ‘a brutal, needless war’ that was ‘chosen by one man.'”

+ We focus so much on strategic moves and geopolitical shifts that we often overlook the brutal impact one monster can have on the world. WaPo (Gift Article): Kharkiv children went to summer camp in Russia. They never came back.