The Russian authorities recognized on Saturday a “significant” influx of cars seeking to go to Georgia, in full mobilization to fight in Ukraine, with some 2,300 vehicles counted at a single border post.
• Read also: New laws signed by Putin: 10 years in prison for deserters
• Read also: The front or the prison: in Russia, demonstrators arrested must choose
“There is a large accumulation of private vehicles, regarding 2300 in total, which have arrived in the Republic of North Ossetia and are lining up to pass the Verkhni Lars checkpoint,” the ministry said. Interior of this Russian republic bordering Georgia.
Due to this influx, “clearing customs is difficult,” added the ministry, which calls on Russians not to seek to leave the country.
The ministry did not specify by what proportion the number of vehicles accumulated at the border was higher than the usual situation, but it announced the deployment of additional police officers to “ensure road safety”.
This influx comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed this week the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of Russians to go and fight in Ukraine.
The move sparked a rush on airline websites, with many Russians fearing they would be called to the front.
While Russians also fear a possible closure of the borders soon, the land crossing points have also been stormed.
In addition to Georgia, the borders with Kazakhstan and Mongolia have also recorded an influx since the announcement of the mobilization, testimonies reporting sometimes several hours of waiting before being able to pass.
On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said reports of an “exodus” of Russians were “greatly exaggerated”.