After Putin's Partial Mobilization Order... 200,000 Russians Left the Country

Escape to Avoid Conscription Under Partial Mobilization Order
At Least 200,000 Leave Kazakhstan, Georgia, EU, and Others

On the 22nd (local time), a Russian man is entering Zvartnots International Airport near Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a partial mobilization order for reservists the day before to win the war against Ukraine. As the Russian government faced a surge in the purchase of outbound flight tickets to avoid the mobilization order, it banned male citizens aged 18 to 65 from buying outbound flight tickets without the Ministry of Defense's permission. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] After Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a 'partial mobilization order' to deploy 300,000 reservists to the Ukraine war, it has been confirmed that about 200,000 Russians fled abroad across the borders within a week.

On the 28th (local time), Bloomberg News cited statistics from neighboring countries of Russia such as the European Union (EU), Georgia, and Kazakhstan, reporting that more than 200,000 Russians have left their homeland since the partial mobilization order was signed on the 21st.

The Kazakhstan government reported that about 98,000 Russians entered the country within a week. Approximately 53,000 Russians were reported to have entered Georgia. In the EU, 66,000 Russians entered just last week, a 30% increase compared to the previous week. Among EU countries, the number of Russian entrants increased especially in Finland and Estonia. Bloomberg predicted that the actual number might be higher as countries like T?rkiye (Turkey), Armenia, and Azerbaijan have not separately disclosed the number of Russian entrants.

The decisive reason for their departure from their homeland appears to be the partial mobilization order. After the order, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that only 300,000 out of the total 25 million reservists would be subject to conscription, but summons were sent even to men without military experience or of older age, causing growing concern among Russians. There is an analysis that the increasing number of people choosing to flee the country is due to fears that the Russian government will actively block the 'exodus' of young men.

There are also indications that Russian authorities are cracking down on escapes at border areas. On the 28th, Sergey Menyalo, head of the North Ossetia Autonomous Republic bordering Georgia, announced that vehicle traffic was restricted in the border area with Georgia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.