Putin summoned 300,000 Russian reservists… 200,000 people have already escaped overseas

At least 200,000 people escaped to Kazakhs, Georgia and the EU
The purpose of avoiding conscription under the partial mobilization order
‘Cool’ reaction in Georgia, where anti-Russian sentiment is strong

Vehicles with Russians lined up to cross over to Georgia. photo = TASS

It is understood that around 200,000 people have already crossed the border and left the country within a week following Russian President Vlamidir Putin issued a “partial mobilization order” to send 300,000 reserve troops into the Ukraine war.

According to Bloomberg News on the 28th (local time), it is estimated that more than 200,000 Russians have left their homeland following the partial mobilization order, citing statistics from neighboring countries such as the European Union (EU), Georgia and Kazakhstan. After Putin signed the partial mobilization order on the 21st, regarding 98,000 Russians entered Kazakhstan and regarding 53,000 Russians entered Georgia. 66,000 Russians entered the EU last week alone. The number of Russians entering the EU rose 30% from the previous week. The EU countries with a particularly strong Russian presence are Finland and Estonia. The actual number might be higher, Bloomberg estimates, as Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan do not disclose the number of Russian arrivals. Earlier, the independent Russian press Novaya Gazeta reported that 260,000 Russians had fled the country over the past 21-24 days alone.

The decisive reason for leaving their homeland is presumed to be the partial mobilization order. After the partial mobilization order, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said only 300,000 of the 25 million reserve forces would be subject to conscription. However, as subpoenas were issued to men with no military experience or even older men, anxiety among Russians increased. As concerns regarding the Russian government’s full-fledged ‘exodus’ (great escape) of young men increased, the number of cases of ‘post-Russia’ increased sharply.

Russian reserve forces convened by partial mobilization order. photo = REUTERS

Russia’s Kremlin said on the 26th that it is not considering invoking martial law or closing borders to prevent Russians from fleeing abroad. However, on the 28th, Sergei Menello, the head of the Autonomous Republic of North Ossetia, which borders Georgia, announced that it had restricted vehicle traffic in the area along the Georgian border. The Autonomous Republic of North Ossetia is part of Russia. Also on the 28th, the Russian government announced that it would not issue visas to Russian men who had been subpoenaed.

However, neighboring countries are displeased with the escaped Russians. This is because anti-Russian sentiment is strong among the people of Georgia and Kazakhstan. Russia invaded Georgia in 2008. A Georgia lawmaker even called the recent surge in Russian immigration a “tankless merger attempt.” Georgia is pushing for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), but it has been hampered by Russian opposition.

Reporter Lee Go-woon [e-mail]