Russians lineup to get a Kazakh registration after crossing the border into Kazakhstan from the Mariinsky border crossing, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) south of Chelyabinsk, in Russia, to Kazakhstan’s town Uralsk, 1400 km east of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Russians have crossed into Kazakhstan in the week since President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine, Kazakh officials said Tuesday, as men seeking to avoid the call-up continued to flee by land and air into neighboring countries. (AP Photo/Denis Spiridonov)
Earlier this week, makeshift Russian draft offices were set up near the Verkhny Lars border crossing into Georgia in southern Russia and near the Torfyanka checkpoint on Russia’s border with Finland. Russian officials said they would hand call-up notices to all eligible men who were trying to leave the country.
An aerial view of the border crossing at Verkhny Lars between Georgia, bottom, and Russia, in Georgia, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Long lines of vehicles have formed at a border crossing between Russia’s North Ossetia region and Georgia after Moscow announced a partial military mobilization. A day after President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization to bolster his troops in Ukraine, many Russians are leaving their homes. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Over 194,000 Russian citizens have fled to neighboring Georgia, Kazakhstan and Finland — most often by car, bicycle or on foot — since Russian President Vladimir Putin last week announced a partial mobilization of reservists. In Russia, the vast majority of men under age 65 are registered as reservists.
People walk toward the border crossing between Georgia and Russia at Verkhny Lars, as they leave Chmi, North Ossetia–Alania Republic, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Long lines of vehicles have formed at a border crossing between Russia’s North Ossetia region and Georgia after Moscow announced a partial military mobilization. (AP Photo)
The Kremlin has said it plans to call-up some 300,000 people, but Russian media reported that the number could be as high as 1.2 million, a claim that Russian officials have denied.
A young man walks as another rides his bicycle toward the border crossing between Georgia and Russia at Verkhny Lars, as they leave Chmi, North Ossetia–Alania Republic, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Long lines of vehicles have formed at a border crossing between Russia’s North Ossetia region and Georgia after Moscow announced a partial military mobilization. (AP Photo)
Russia’s Defense Ministry has promised to only draft those who have combat or service experience, but according to multiple media reports and human rights advocates, men who don’t fit the criteria are also being rounded up.
People walk toward the border crossing at Verkhny Lars between Georgia, bottom, and Russia leaving Chmi, North Ossetia–Alania Republic, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Long lines of vehicles have formed at a border crossing between Russia’s North Ossetia region and Georgia after Moscow announced a partial military mobilization. A day after President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization to bolster his troops in Ukraine, many Russians are leaving their homes. (AP Photo)
The official decree on mobilization, signed by Putin last week, is concise and vague, fueling fears of a broader draft.
A Russian man rests in at temporary accommodation facility after crossing the border into Kazakhstan from the Mariinsky border crossing, about 400 km (250 miles) south of Chelyabinsk, in Russia, to Kazakhstan’s town Ata-Meken, about 1400 km (250 miles) east of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Russians have crossed into Kazakhstan in the week since President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine, Kazakh officials said Tuesday, as men seeking to avoid the call-up continued to flee by land and air into neighboring countries. (AP Photo/Denis Spiridonov)
In an apparent effort to calm the population, Putin told Russia’s Security Council on Thursday that mistakes had been made in the mobilization. He said that Russian men mistakenly called up for service should be sent back home, and that only reservists with proper training and specialties should be summoned to serve.
Cars queuing toward the border crossing at Verkhny Lars between Russia and Georgia, leaving Chmi, North Ossetia – Alania Republic, in Russia, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Long lines of vehicles have formed at a border crossing between Russia’s North Ossetia region and Georgia after Moscow announced a partial military mobilization to bolster its troops in Ukraine, many Russians are leaving their homes. (AP Photo)
“It’s necessary to deal with each such case independently, but if there is a mistake, I repeat, it must be fixed. It’s necessary to bring back those who were drafted without proper reason,” Putin stressed.
Russians, mostly men, lineup to get a Kazakh registration after crossing the border into Kazakhstan from the Mariinsky border crossing, about 400 km (250 miles) south of Chelyabinsk, in Russia, to Kazakhstan’s town Uralsk, 1400 km east of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Russians have crossed into Kazakhstan in the week since President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine, Kazakh officials said Tuesday, as men seeking to avoid the call-up continued to flee by land and air into neighboring countries. (AP Photo/Denis Spiridonov)
The mass exodus of Russian men — alone or with their families or friends — began Sept. 21, shortly after Putin’s address to the nation, and continued all this week. Airline tickets to destinations abroad have sold out days in advance, even at unprecedentedly high prices.
People, most of them Russians, walk after they crossed the border between Georgia and Russia at Verkhny Lars, in Georgia, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Protesters come from Tbilisi to voice their concerns over the exodus of Russian citizens into Georgia that has increased since Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilization. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)
Long lines of cars formed on roads leading to Russia’s borders. Russian authorities tried to stem the outflow by turning back some men at the borders, citing mobilization laws, or setting up draft offices at border checkpoints.
People walk toward the border crossing at Verkhny Lars between Georgia, bottom, and Russia leaving Chmi, North Ossetia–Alania Republic, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Long lines of vehicles have formed at a border crossing between Russia’s North Ossetia region and Georgia after Moscow announced a partial military mobilization. A day after President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization to bolster his troops in Ukraine, many Russians are leaving their homes. (AP Photo)
The bus stations in Samara and Tolyatti, two large Russian cities in the Samara region, on Thursday halted service to Uralsk, a border city in Kazakhstan.
People, most of them Russians, walk after they crossed the border between Georgia and Russia at Verkhny Lars, in Georgia, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Protesters come from Tbilisi to voice their concerns over the exodus of Russian citizens into Georgia that has increased since Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilization. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)
Finland announced that it would ban Russian citizens with tourist visas from entering the country starting Friday. With the exception of Norway, which has only one border crossing with Russia, Finland has provided the last easily accessible land route to Europe for Russian holders of European Schengen-zone visas. The Nordic country has taken in tens of thousands of people fleeing the military call-up in recent days.
A Russian couple wave toward a photographer as they walk after crossing the border between Georgia and Russia at Verkhny Lars, in Georgia, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Protesters come from Tbilisi to voice their concerns over the exodus of Russian citizens into Georgia that has increased since Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilization. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)
