Russians Fear Putin Will Send Them to War Once Election Is Over
Kremlin critics and Western officials say the draft could bring hundreds of thousands more men into the army without a formal announcement.
- As Russia's parliamentary elections conclude today, September 20, citizens express growing fear that President Vladimir Putin may order a new massive mobilization for the war in Ukraine after the vote.
- The Kremlin faces intensifying manpower pressures as the volunteer pool dries up in the war's fifth year, despite recruiting about 234,000 contract troops between January and August against an annual target of 400,000.
- Electronic summonses are now legally binding with automatic exit bans triggered upon issuance, while documents seen by Bloomberg News show Kremlin officials moving assets abroad and encouraging relatives to leave Russia.
- Panic has driven search queries for "mobilisation" and "how to leave" to their highest levels since early 2023, prompting many Russians to attempt fleeing to visa-free destinations including Armenia.
- European officials warn Russia is preparing to draft 300,000 men by the end of 2026, though Putin dismisses such warnings as "complete nonsense," and independent Russian media have counted 17 official denials of an imminent draft since summer.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Rumors are spreading in Russia about a new mobilization that is driving Russian men underground. HS interviewed 15 Russian men, some of whom say they have left the country.
The requests for assistance to leave the country are almost eight times those of July. On the border have already been reported cases of prohibition of expatriation related to electronic convocations
The number of requests for emergency assistance in moving out of Russia has increased eightfold since July, and searches for terms such as "how to leave" and "mobilization" have reached their highest level since the beginning of 2023. Many Russians fear that a new mobilization will follow after the end of the Russian State Duma elections.
The Russians are leaving the country as a matter of urgency in fear of the new electronic system of citations that can block their exit. Applications for immigration assistance have increased eight times since July, and searches on the Internet for "how to leave and "mobilization have reached the highest level since the beginning of 2023, according to Euronews.com. This increase ...
Russians leave before election ends, fearing mobilisation to follow
Requests for emergency emigration assistance from Russia have surged eightfold since July, with searches for "how to leave" and "mobilisation" at their highest since early 2023. An electronic summons register now automatically triggers an exit ban, documented cases show.
Many of them cross the Georgian border for fear of being forced to join the army.
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