BY JAMIE MCINTYRE

PUTIN: ‘THIS IS NO BLUFF’: In a 20-minute recorded address to his nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin upped the ante in a tacit admission that his forces have suffered humiliating losses in the first seven months of his faltering invasion of Ukraine.

Putin ordered what he called a “partial mobilization,” which would activate some 300,000 reserve forces who already have military training, and he peppered his speech with accusations against NATO and the West, saying they had “crossed all lines” in arming Ukraine, and are engaging in “nuclear blackmail,” falsely accusing NATO of contemplating the use nuclear weapons against Russia.

“If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people. This is not a bluff,” Putin said, casting the action as a response to a direct threat from NATO. The mobilization, he said, is “to protect our homeland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, to ensure the security of our people and people in the liberated territories.”

In a tweet today, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace called Putin’s mobilization “an admission his invasion is failing.”

“No amount of threats and propaganda can hide the fact that Ukraine is winning the war, the international community are united and Russia is becoming a global pariah,” Wallace said.

PUTIN ANNOUNCES PARTIAL MOBILIZATION OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION

‘SHAM REFERENDA’ SET: Putin’s actions came a day after Russian-installed officials in occupied areas of Luhansk, Kherson, as well as parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions announced plans to hold four days of voting on the question of whether the regions want to become part of Russia.

The U.S. and its allies have denounced the referenda as “sham elections” that are an act of desperation in response to Ukraine's successful counteroffensive.

“We know that these referenda will be manipulated. We know that Russia will use these sham referenda as a basis to purportedly annex these territories either now or in the future,” said national security adviser Jake Sullivan at the White House Tuesday. “Let me be clear: If this does transpire … the United States will never recognize Russia's claims -- claims to any purportedly-annexed parts of Ukraine, and we will never recognize this territory as anything other than a part of Ukraine.”

WHITE HOUSE WILL ‘NEVER’ RECOGNIZE ANNEXED UKRAINIAN TERRITORY AS RUSSIAN

THE ISW’S TAKE: “The Kremlin’s annexation plans are primarily targeting a domestic audience; Putin likely hopes to improve Russian force generation capabilities by calling on the Russian people to volunteer for a war to ‘defend’ newly claimed Russian territory,” says the latest analysis from the Institute for the Study of War.

“Putin and his advisors have apparently realized that current Russian forces are insufficient to conquer Ukraine and that efforts to build large forces quickly through voluntary mobilization are culminating short of the Russian military’s force requirements,” the ISW concludes. “Putin is therefore likely setting legal and informational conditions to improve Russian force generation without resorting to expanded conscription by changing the balance of carrots and sticks the Kremlin has been using to spur voluntary recruitment.”

RUSSIAN-OCCUPIED DONBAS REGION TO HOLD REFERENDA ON ANNEXATION

Good Wednesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Victor I. Nava. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter: @dailyondefense.

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HAPPENING TODAY, BIDEN AT UN: President Joe Biden is in New York, where he will address the U.N. General Assembly at 10:35 a.m. in a speech that will “describe his vision for American foreign policy and principled leadership in the world,” and “offer a firm rebuke of Russia's unjust war in Ukraine,” according to the White House.

“The main thrust of his presentation when it comes to Ukraine will really be about the United Nations charter, about the foundational principle at the heart of that charter, that countries cannot conquer their neighbors by force, cannot seize and acquire territory by force,” said national security adviser Jake Sullivan previewing the speech for reporters. “He will speak to every country in the world, those that have joined our broad-based coalition to support Ukraine and those who so far have stood on the sidelines, that now is a moment to stand behind the foundational principles of the charter.”

Biden also has one-on-one meetings scheduled with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss.

The world body will also hear from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will attempt to reassure allies that Ukraine is winning the war, deserving of continued support, and in need of still more advanced weaponry, including tanks, fighter aircraft, and air defenses.

“The situation on the frontline clearly indicates that the initiative belongs to Ukraine,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address. “So let’s maintain the pressure. Let’s preserve unity. Let’s defend Ukraine. We are liberating our land. And we are not showing any signs of weakness.”

UKRAINE MAY HAVE RUSSIAN FORCES CAUGHT IN 'BEAUTIFULLY DEFENSIBLE GRAVE

RATCHETING UP RUSSIAN SANCTIONS: Two senators, one Republican and one Democrat, are proposing a “framework” for tightening the current economic sanctions that have so far failed to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from continuing his military campaign to seize much of Ukraine by force.

The proposals include a sliding price cap on Russian oil shipped by sea until, after three years, it can only be sold at cost; sanctions on countries that increase their purchases of Russian oil, gas, and coal beyond what they bought pre-war; a seven-year sunset provision; and waiver authority for the president.

“The U.S. and our allies have taken important steps to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked war against Ukraine, including sanctions that have hit its economy and Putin’s cronies. However, we have yet to effectively cut off funding to Putin’s war machine by diminishing Russia’s revenues from energy sales,” said Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) in a joint statement. “In order to successfully enforce the price cap, it’s clear the administration requires new authority from Congress, which is exactly what our framework will provide.”

SENATORS PROPOSE SECONDARY SANCTIONS ON NATIONS BUYING MORE RUSSIAN FOSSIL FUELS

THE WHITE HOUSE WALKBACK CONTINUES: The White House continues to try to un-say what President Joe Biden clearly said in his 60 minutes interview on CBS Sunday night.

Asked point-blank by CBS correspondent Scott Pelley: “So unlike Ukraine, to be clear, sir, U.S. forces — U.S. men and women — would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion?” Biden replied with an unequivocal “Yes.”

But at yesterday’s White House briefing, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden was answering “a hypothetical question,” not making a policy change.

“The president has reiterated those basic commitments on every occasion that he’s talked about Taiwan, including in this interview where he specifically and emphatically and unequivocally reinforced and reiterated the One China policy,” Sullivan said. “When the president of the United States wants to announce a policy change, he will do so. He has not done so.”

All clear now?

OPINION: THE TWO PROBLEMS WITH BIDEN'S TAIWAN DEFENSE PLEDGE\

REVIEW OF ‘MISO’ OPERATIONS UNDERWAY: Following a report in the Washington Post Monday, the Pentagon is acknowledging that it's conducting a review of its conduct of psychological operations on the internet, after Twitter and Facebook took offline fake accounts believed to be run by the U.S. military.

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder says neither social media company has informed the Defense Department of the action, but a review is being conducted “out of due diligence” as “part of a standard management process.”

“To my knowledge, we have not reviewed this information, so we can't make the assumption that this is DOD,” he said.

The Pentagon now refers to psy-ops as MISOs, an acronym for “Military Information Support Operations.”

“It's an aspect of warfare as old as warfare itself. And we conduct those operations in support of national security priorities,” said Ryder. “They must be undertaken in compliance with U.S. law and DOD policy, and we have safeguards in place and are committed to observing those safeguards.”

Ryder says information warfare is separate and apart from public affairs, and while it can involve the dissemination of deceptive or untruthful reports, “It's an aspect of warfare as old as warfare itself,” Ryder said. “Truth is always the preferred option.”

“When you start talking about military deception operations, I mean, not to go too far back, when you think of World War II and you think of the invasion of D-Day and airplanes that were out on a runway that were meant to deceive the adversary, you know, that is a capability in your toolkit that you will keep in order to enable your operations,” he said.

INDUSTRY WATCH — THE BIG REVEAL: Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced it will finally give the public a look at what the stealthy new Air Force B-21 Raider looks like during the first week of December at the company’s Palmdale, California facility.

“The B-21 is the most advanced military aircraft ever built and is a product of pioneering innovation and technological excellence,” said Doug Young, sector vice president and general manager, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems,” in a release from the company.

Artist conceptions have pictured the long-range nuclear-capable bomber as having a bat-wing design similar to the iconic B-2 stealth bomber it's replacing.

Grumman says it’s in the process of building six test B-21s, which are “in various stages of final assembly” in Palmdale, California. The first test flight is projected for 2023.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Rundown

Washington Examiner: Putin announces partial mobilization of Russian Federation

Washington Examiner: Russian-occupied Donbas region to hold referenda on annexation

Washington Examiner: White House will ‘never’ recognize annexed Ukrainian territory as Russian

Washington Examiner: UN chief says talk of possible peace deal in Ukraine is ‘naive’

Washington Examiner: Ukraine may have Russian forces caught in 'beautifully defensible grave'

Washington Examiner: Senators propose secondary sanctions on nations buying more Russian fossil fuels

Washington Examiner: National Guard tries healthcare, educational, and financial recruitment incentives

Washington Examiner: LISTEN: Space Force introduces 'Semper Supra' as service anthem

Washington Examiner: Meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah, Israel's Yair Lapid shows how to lead

Washington Examiner: Opinion: The two problems with Biden's Taiwan defense pledge

Reuters: Flights out of Russia sell out after Putin orders partial call-up

New York Times: U.S. Bolsters Ukraine Aid Amid Worries That European Support Is Waning

Wall Street Journal: The Ragtag Army That Saved Kyiv

CNN: U.S. And Canadian Warships Sail Through Taiwan Strait After Biden Vows To Defend Island

Air & Space Forces Magazine: ‘We’re Not Ready’ to Fight China in Space and Cyber, Say Top U.S. Generals

USNI News: Chinese Fleet Expansion Pushing U.S. Navy To Catch Up On Maintenance

Reuters: China Willing To Make Effort For Peaceful ‘Reunification’ With Taiwan

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Van Ovost: Time to Invest in Next Generation of Tankers, Airlifters

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Brown’s 5 Big Steps to Transforming His Air Force

Bloomberg: Boeing’s troubled Air Force tanker hits new delay in fixing cameras

Defense Daily: Decision Expected This Year on Future Path for F-35 Engine

CQ Roll Call: Nuclear Arms Fears Surface During Senate Hearing

Military Times: Congresswoman Calls For Examination Of Military Pretrial Confinement

Task & Purpose: Self-described ‘Patriots’ tried to clog up the Veterans Crisis Line with bogus calls as a political stunt

Bloomberg: Pentagon Shift To PFAS-Free Foam Spurring ‘Tidal Wave’ Of Change

19fortyfive.com: Putin's Sham Referendums in Ukraine Could Mean Danger for NATO

19fortyfive.com: Why the Russian Navy Has Vanished From the War in Ukraine

19fortyfive.com: The B-21 Raider Could Be the Ultimate Christmas Gift for the U.S. Air Force

The Cipher Brief: Why Nuclear Deterrence is an Open-Ended Invitation

The Cipher Brief: A Tale of Biological Terror and Espionage

Forbes: Opinion: The Right Way To Buy The U.S. Navy’s New Generation Of Supercarriers

Calendar

WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 21

8:15 a.m. 165 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Maryland — Air and Space Forces Association 2022 Air, Space and Cyber Conference, with Air Force Gen. Glenn VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command; Navy Adm. Charles Richard, commander of U.S. Strategic Command; Army Gen. James Dickinson, commander of U.S. Space Command; Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command; and Air Force Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command https://www.afa.org/events/2022-air-space-cyber-conference

8:30 a.m. — Foundation for the Defense of Democracies discussion: “Assessing America’s Cyber Resiliency: A Conversation,” with co-chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI); moderated by Tim Starks, author of the Cybersecurity 202 newsletter at The Washington Post. https://www.fdd.org/events/2022/09/21/assessing-americas-cyber-resiliency

8:45 a.m. 1735 New York Ave. N.W. — Defense Strategies Institute 11th Military Tactical Communications Summit, with Deondray Wesley, branch head of Tactical and Public Safety Communications at DoD-CIO; Army CIO Raj Iyer; Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Eubank, commanding general at the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command; and Space Systems Command CIO Air Force Col. Albert Olagbemiro Note: Closed press. https://tacticalcommunications.dsigroup.org/

10 a.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “New Paradigm for Cyber Competition: A Conversation on Cyber Persistent Theory," with Emily Goldman, director of U.S. Cyber Command/National Security Agency Combined Action Group; Richard Harknett, co-director of the Ohio Cyber Range Institute; and Michael Fischerkeller, research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses' Information, Technology and Systems Division https://carnegieendowment.org/2022/09/21/new-paradigm-for-cyber-competition

10:30 a.m. — Henry L. Stimson Center virtual discussion: "Deepening U.S.-Japan Alliance Cooperation in the Face of Global Challenges," with retired Japan Air Self-Defense Force Gen. Yoshiyuki Sugiyama, president of the Japan-America Air Force Goodwill Association; former Assistant Defense Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Wallace Gregson; and Yuki Tatsumi, director of the Stimson Center's Japan Program https://www.stimson.org/event/deepening-u-s-japan-alliance

10:35 a.m. — President Joe Biden addresses the United Nations General Assembly

2 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Military Personnel hearing: "Update on the Implementation of Recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military and the Establishment of the Office of Special Trial Counsels,” with testimony from Gilbert Cisneros, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness; Gabe Camarillo, undersecretary of the Army; Erik Raven, undersecretary of the Navy; and Gina Ortiz Jones, undersecretary of the Air Force https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

2 p.m. — House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing: Putin’s Proxies: Examining Russia’s Use of Private Military Companies,” with testimony from Kimberly Marten, professor, Political Science Department, Barnard College, Columbia University; Catrina Doxsee, associate director, Transnational Threats Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Joseph Siegle, director of research, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University https://oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases

3:30 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel hearing on the status of military recruiting and retention efforts across the Department of Defense, with testimony from Stephanie Miller, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military personnel policy; Lt. Gen. Douglas Stitt, deputy army chief of staff; Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman, deputy chief of naval operations personnel, manpower and training; Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller, deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel, and service, U.S. Air Force; and Michael Strobl, assistant deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs, U.S. Marine Corps https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings

THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 22

8:45 a.m. 1735 New York Ave. N.W. — Defense Strategies Institute 11th Military Tactical Communications Summit, with Retired Army Futures Command CIO Wade Johnston; Air Force Lt. Col. Gabriel Avilla, chief of the Cyberspace Transformation Division in the Directorate of Cyberspace and Information Dominance Air Combat Command; and Special Operations Command COO of Networks and Services Army Col. Joseph Pishock Note: Closed press https://tacticalcommunications.dsigroup.org/

10 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Forum discussion on Space Force training, education and doctrine and STARCOM’s contributions to space warfighting, with Maj. Gen. Shawn Bratton, commander, Space Training and Readiness Command https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event

10 a.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: “Learning to Win: Using Operational Innovation to Regain the Advantage at Sea against China," with Trent Hone, vice president of ICF; Dmitry Filipoff, director of online content at the Center for International Maritime Security; Michael Hunzeker, associate professor at George Mason University; and Bryan Clark, senior fellow at Hudson https://www.hudson.org/events/2149-learning-to-win

1 p.m. — GovExec and HP with Intel event: “Securing the Air Force,” with Air Force officials: Aaron Bishop, chief information security officer; Jay Bonci, chief technology officer, OCIO; Colt Whittall, chief experience officer; Stuart Wagner, chief digital transformation officer; and Tommy Garder, Chief Technology Officer, HP Federal https://events.govexec.com/securing-air-force

3 p.m. 300 E St. S.W. — National Aeronautics and Space Administration briefing on Double Asteroid Redirection Test's (DART) final activities before its impact with Dimorphos. https://socialforms.nasa.gov/DART-Pre-Impact-Press-Briefing

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 23

9 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual book discussion China's Next Act: How Sustainability and Technology are Reshaping China's Rise and the World's Future, with author Scott Moore, director of the University of Pennsylvania's China Programs and Strategic Initiatives; Carla Freeman, senior expert on China, U.S. Institute of Peace; and Andrew Mertha, director of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies' China Global Research Center https://www.csis.org/events/book-event-chinas-next-act-scott-m-moore

11 a.m. 760 Maine Avenue S.W. — 2022 Atlantic Festival discussion: “Threats to Democracy: The Latest on the Course of the War in Ukraine,” with White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain https://hopin.com/events/atlantic-festival

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