Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Moscow has decided to declare a partial mobilization as NATO now de facto confronts Russia with all of its logistical capabilities.

"[Russian] President [Vladimir Putin] in his address yesterday gave a clear description and explained the reasons for making such a decision. The fact is that the special operation began ... to fulfill the goals in Ukraine. Now, de facto, we are actually confronted by ... the NATO bloc with all its logistical capabilities," Peskov said.

Commenting on whether partial mobilization drafts up to one million people, Peskov said as quoted by Sputnik that "it is a lie."

Earlier today, media outlets reported that a classified seventh paragraph of Russia's decree on partial mobilization contained information about the recruitment of up to one million people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday a partial mobilization in Russia as the war in Ukraine has now lasted for almost seven months.

A day after Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine declared preparations to hold elections on joining Russia, Putin delivered his address to the nation. 

The referendums, which have been anticipated since the beginning of the war, will begin on Friday in the areas of Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk, which are partially under Russian control.

What does that mean?

Putin reiterated prior assertions that Western countries were to blame for initiating a proxy war with Russia in his television address, saying the West "wants to destroy our country" and is attempting to "convert Ukraine's people into military fodder."

He said “mobilization events” would begin Wednesday without providing further details, aside from saying that he had ordered an increase in funding to boost Russia’s weapons production.

Partial mobilization puts Russia on a stronger war footing. However, partial mobilization may require Russian companies and citizens to contribute more to the war effort.