Thousands Mobilized Flee to Mongolia... Young People Leaving Russia

Mongolia, Finland, Georgia, and Other Borders Crowded with Russians Trying to Cross

On the 25th, Russians are undergoing entry procedures at a border checkpoint in Mongolia. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] A stream of people fleeing Russia to avoid the partial mobilization order announced by the Russian government is continuing. The reception area in Finland is congested with incoming Russian vehicles, and many Russians are heading to border checkpoints in Mongolia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.

On the 25th (local time), AFP reported, "There is a long line of vehicles at the Russia-Mongolia border." The border checkpoint manager in Altanbulag, Mongolia, explained, "Since the 19th, about 3,000 Russians have entered Mongolia through the crossing." Most of them are known to be men. Russians can stay in Mongolia visa-free for 30 days and can extend their stay by an additional 30 days if necessary.

This exodus of Russians is not only to Mongolia but also to other countries such as Finland and T?rkiye (Turkey). Finland, which shares about 1,300 km of border with Russia, has become a major gateway for Russians entering Europe since the Ukraine war.

Finland joined the anti-Russian camp by applying for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) following the Ukraine war but had not imposed significant restrictions on the influx of Russian tourists.

However, as the number of entries from Russia recently increased, on the 24th, Pekka Haavisto, Finland's Foreign Minister, stated, "The increase in Russian tourists is causing serious damage to Finland's international status and relations," and announced, "We will soon announce measures to significantly restrict entry and visa issuance for Russian citizens."

At the Russian border checkpoint leading to Georgia, civilian vehicles trying to leave caused congestion. The local Russian authorities in charge of the checkpoint said about 2,300 vehicles were backed up. Those who crossed the Russian border told AFP, "We are glad to have succeeded in escaping, but we worry about the family and loved ones left behind."

Russians are walking toward the Georgian border. Next to them, vehicles heading to Georgia form a long queue. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Meanwhile, protests against the mobilization order issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 21st are taking place across Russia. The mobilization order, the first since World War II, did not specify the exact criteria for conscription at the time of announcement, but news has emerged that the Russian military is deploying men well past conscription age to the battlefield.

More than 2,000 citizens participating in the anti-mobilization protests have reportedly been arrested by local police. Germany's Deutsche Welle (DW) reported, "In Makhachkala, the capital of the Republic of Dagestan in southwestern Russia, police even fired warning shots to disperse about 100 protesters."