Russians fleeing conscription return home after panic subsides

Conscription-age men who left Russia for fear of being sent to fight in Ukraine should return home after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the end of the chaotic mobilization that pushed hundreds of thousands into the army It is said that

After the initial rush out of the country, fueled by rumors of border closures, many found themselves facing the harsh reality of trying to make a living in an unfamiliar city.

“My brother and I tried to find a job in Kazakhstan — at least a fictitious job to get a residence permit — but we found nothing,” a country in Central Asia.

“I fled because of general panic,” he told the Moscow Times, requesting anonymity to speak freely. It’s over.”

Russia’s move to conscript combat-age men, which began in late September, saw people of conscription age like Pavel trying to get out as quickly as possible, leading to sold-out flights, long queues at border crossings, and more. , caused an unprecedented outflow of people.

Kremlin official reportedly An estimated 700,000 men left the country within two weeks.

But now, the flow of men in the opposite direction is accelerating. Many seem to have been influenced by the official pledge that no one else would be drafted.

Putin Said “Mobilization is complete,” reporters on Monday said, with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu saying last week that Putin’s goal of mobilizing 300,000 reservists had been achieved.

Moscow carpenter Semyon, who declined to give his last name, said he had decided to return from the South Caucasus country of Armenia after Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that mobilization in the Russian capital was complete.

“The police stopped catching men on the streets and in metro stations,” said Semyon, who left his wife and two daughters in Moscow.

Nevertheless, many remain vigilant, fearing a second wave of mobilizations could begin if Russia continues to inflict heavy casualties in Ukraine.

“I still think it was a stupid decision to come back, but it’s hard to keep my emotions in check,” Pavel said.

Pavel’s brother, who declined to be named, told The Moscow Times that he is still in Kazakhstan but intends to travel to Russia soon.

“Forced migration, especially when you are alone, is mentally tough,” he said.

“[But] afraid to go back Technically, I work in IT so I can’t mobilize, but in Russia nothing is guaranteed. ”

If authorities deem them draft evaders, returnees not only face the possibility of imprisonment, but also face a general stigma fueled by official rhetoric.

Influential Russian parliamentarian Andrei Klimov Said Last month, it announced that those who avoided mobilization by leaving the country could be designated as “foreign agents.”

And Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the Council of the Russian Federation, said: called He said that Russians who have gone abroad are “rats” and are no longer welcome in the country.

Experts predict that mobilizing poorly trained conscripts will not reverse Russia’s military fortunes in Ukraine, and will resume mobilization if Russia continues to suffer battlefield defeats. It warns that it may

Officials may send out draft notices again later this winter, according to independent media Medusa. report Last month, he quoted an unnamed Kremlin official.

The St. Petersburg-born businessman, who now lives in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, said he plans to return to Russia, but it’s not quite there yet.

“I left the business in Russia, but the business continues,” he told the Moscow Times, requesting anonymity to speak freely. Believe me…I’m a little sick, but I love my country.”

Carpenter Semyon, who recently returned to Moscow, said he would consider leaving the country again if the Kremlin began conscripting men again.

“If there is a second wave of mobilization, I will try to leave,” he told the Moscow Times. “But this time with my family.”

For Nika Karchevskaya, 24, who moved to neighboring Georgia soon after the Russian invasion began in February and volunteered to help fleeing people in late September, many Russians returned home as mobilizations weakened. It is not surprising that

“Some left for less than 10,000 rubles ($165). You must have seen poor souls! There weren’t even jobs online. told the Moscow Times.

In particular, Karchevskaya was involved in helping Russians navigate the huge queues that formed at Russia’s only border crossing with Georgia following calls for mobilization.

“Many of the people I helped leave have already returned,” she said.

“I think about half of the refugees will return to Russia.”