Australia will back Ukraine in a protracted war, Defence Minister Richard Marles says

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has warned Australia will need to provide long-term support for Ukraine as its war with Russia appears to be becoming a protracted conflict. 

"We need to see this as … having all the potential for it to be a protracted conflict," Marles told Sky News Australia.

"And our objective here has to be enabling Ukraine to ultimately end this conflict on its own terms, for it to be the author of the resolution of the end of the conflict."

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Earlier this week, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilisation involving 300,000 people.

He also made threats about using nuclear weapons.

Marles said Putin's remarks were "appalling". 

"They are appalling comments to make. I mean, it is clearly an appalling thing to do to place that potential on the table," he said.

"Certainly the comments that we've seen from Vladimir Putin in the last few days which speak to the behaviour of Russia cannot be allowed to stand.

"Russia needs to stop and Russia needs to leave Ukraine."

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In response to the mobilisation order, social media posts have shown some Russians attempting to flee the country in a bid to avoid being called up to fight in the war.

Hundreds have also been arrested in public protests in Moscow and St Petersburg.

"I think the scenes that we've seen from Russia over the last few days, of people seeking to leave the country, of obvious distress for those being called up and be asked to serve in the Russian forces, in respect of this says everything about where public opinion's actually at within Russia," Marles said.

Marles denied claims made by the opposition that Australia's provision of military resources, including Bushmaster vehicles, to Ukraine had been held up by red tape. 

"There is no complaint coming from Ukraine in respect of any of that and the program of delivery that was worked out between us and Ukraine is on schedule," Marles said.