The President of Russia, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin today he signed the new law, which foresees a prison sentence of up to ten years for citizens who refuse to fight, desert, disobey orders or surrender to Ukrainian forces.

The law was previously approved by both houses of the Russian Parliament. Under the old law, deserting soldiers were subject to a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

After the announced mobilization, a large number of Russians left the country, and protests were organized in dozens of cities, at which over 1.600 people were arrested.

According to civil rights activists, several people were detained in Russia today during new protests in response to the mobilization of army reservists to fight in Ukraine.

According to photos and videos released by independent media, protesters have been detained in Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Tomsk and Chita in Siberia, where the media say the bulk of the "partial mobilization" ordered by Putin last week is taking place. Demonstrators carried banners that read "We are not meat".

Protests are also planned for today in the largest Russian cities, Moscow and Saint Petersburg.