President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial military mobilization and vowed on Wednesday to use "all available means" to protect Russian territory, after Moscow-held regions of Ukraine suddenly announced annexation referendums, AFP reported.

“I'd like to remind you that our country also has various weapons of destruction. And in certain aspects even more modern [weapons] than NATO countries,” Putin said.

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“If there's a threat to the territorial integrity of our country, in order to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal. This is not a bluff,” he added.

Putin lastly said, “The citizens of Russia can be sure that the territorial integrity of our homeland, our independence and our freedom will be guaranteed. Let me stress this once again, this will be done by all the means at our disposal. Those who are trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the wind can also turn in their direction.”