Russian women fleeing the country (September 30, 2022).
Davit Kachkachishvili/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
- A Russian doctor told Insider she fled the country for fear of being drafted into war in Ukraine.
- Because of the required courses taken in medical school, women are automatically enrolled as officers in the reserves, he said.
- A former nurse in Russia also told Insider that she would rather go to prison than serve in the military.
Partial mobilization orderMen are not the only ones fleeing Russia following the order.
It was while working as a doctor in St. Petersburg that Barbara began to fear that she too might be drafted into the army.
Varvara, who had no intention of serving in the army under any circumstances, packed her bags, said goodbye to her husband and hastily left Russia.
“I had been planning to move to Germany for a while for work, but due to the partial mobilization decree, I had to speed it up,” Barbara told Insider.
Most doctors in Russia are women
Barbara and her husband had planned to move to Germany in November. A job has been secured at a German hospital, and the couple are looking forward to starting a new life together.
However, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on September 21 that he had signed a partial mobilization order for the military, and 300,000 reservists with military experience were to be called up immediately, Varvara began to feel uneasy. .
“I mightn’t imagine being in a war. It’s not our war.”
The partial mobilization order was initially thought to be aimed at male reservists, but a spokesman for the Russian military department said:Russian state mediaShe said women with certain specialties, including medical personnel, might also be called up.
in Russiamore than 700,000 doctorsof theregarding 70%is a woman
Tamilla Imanova, an attorney at the Memorial Human Rights Center, said “a lot” of female doctors would have already been called up by the independent Russian media outlet.Meduza’ said.
Earlier in October, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said women were not called up.explained to the press.Barbara had already left Russia at the time, butreportGiven that, Shoigu’s explanation is questionable.
“We didn’t think regarding the importance of things.”
When they were in medical school regarding 20 years ago, the Barbaras had to undergo mandatory military training. It used to be the norm, but since 2010, it has been compulsory.
“At the time, we weren’t thinking regarding the significance or the implications of it,” Barbara said.
After completing the compulsory courses, the Varvaras were automatically registered as specialist officers in the Russian military reserve. A few years ago, she had the option to deregister it, but Barbara said she didn’t do anything.
Barbara felt it might be her turn to be called up next, given that she was a registered reserve officer and a doctor. The female nurses working at the same hospital had already received their summons, and she was worried that she would soon receive them as well.
“I left Russia in a hurry because I thought that if I received a draft, I would automatically not be allowed to leave the country. I would not be allowed to cross the border,” Barbara said.
Thus, Barbara decided to flee the country. Her husband had not yet received a visa from Germany, so she had to go out alone.
People wait in their cars to cross the border with Kazakhstan on September 27, 2022.
AP
“I was going to leave Kazakhstan in a wave of panic, but I heard people were queuing for three days and there was a problem at the border. I’m out of the border.”
Barbara said she was asked relatively few questions at the border control office regarding her reasons for leaving the country because she was a woman. Her Russian side never questioned her, Finnish side said she was allowed to enter because she had a German visa.
Once in Finland, Barbara bought a ticket to Germany. He did not disclose where he lives now for fear of being identified.
Barbara hopes to be able to live with her husband once more in Germany in November. She says she won’t be returning to Russia anytime soon.
“I have relatives and friends[in Russia]I have social connections, but right now the threat to me outweighs everything else and I don’t want to go back.”
one’s military duty as indicated by a passport stamp
From the left, Sonia Subochina and Alexandra Skochilenko.
Sonia Subbotina/Insider
Others continue to stay in Russia, feeling the same fear of being drafted.
anti-war artist in custody,Alexandra (Sasha) Skochlenkobe a partner ofSonia Subochinatold Insider that he would not leave St. Petersburg to help Skochlenko.
But with degrees in nursing and pharmacy and his passport stamped with mandatory military service, he fears he will be drafted soon.
“I’m in St. Petersburg right now and I’m nervous because I have things to do: deliver food and medicines to Sasha, negotiate a doctor’s appointment, talk to a lawyer regarding how to fight. ” said Subochina. Skochilenko, who has been in detention for more than six months, suffers from various health problems.
Svochina might be sent to Ukraine if called up because of her medical background. But Subochina said he would adamantly refuse to serve in the army, and he said he was ready to deal with any consequences.
“I will not join this war under any circumstances. My beloved woman is in jail because of this war. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine destroyed our lives in mid-April. Convocation.” If I get a warrant, I will ignore it, I’d rather go to jail.”
(Translated and edited by Yoshimi Yamaguchi)
