Long queues have formed along Russia's border crossings with Finland and Georgia as men of fighting age attempt to leave the country following President Putin's military call up - and some have suggested they have no clue when they'll return.
President of the Free Buryatia Foundation told the Guardian she received over 3,000 reports of draft notices being delivered in the Zakamensky region of Buryatia within 24 hours of Putin's announcement. Oleg, a 29-year-old sergeant in the Russian reserves, told the publication he quickly packed his bags and booked a one-way ticket Orenburg, a Russian city close to the border of Kazakhstan.“I have no idea when I’ll step foot in Russia again.
In televised remarks on Wednesday, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the military call up would only apply to reservists with previous experience as soldiers. He said students or those currently serving as conscripts would not be included in the mobilisation order. "These are really those who have served, have a military speciality, that is, a speciality that is needed today in the Armed Forces, who have combat experience," he said. "They are not subject to any mobilisation and direction for the 'special military operation'. Our conscripts also continue to serve, as they did, on the territory of the Russian Federation."
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Vladimir Putin sets partial military call-up and says he won't 'bluff' on nukesRussian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation in Russia as the war in Ukraine reaches nearly seven months and Moscow loses ground on the battlefield. 9News
Read more »
Vladimir Putin sets partial military call-up and says he won't 'bluff' on nukesRussian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation in Russia as the war in Ukraine reaches nearly seven months and Moscow loses ground on the battlefield. 9News
Read more »
'Everyone is scared': Protesters arrested across Russia as backlash to Vladimir Putin's mobilisation growsPresident Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's first wartime mobilisation since World War Two on Wednesday, in what Western countries described as an act of desperation in the face of a losing war.
Read more »
Protests break out across Russia after Vladimir Putin declares partial military mobilisationThousands of protests have taken place in 32 cities across Russia just hours after President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation of the nation's military, signifying a major escalation of the war in Ukraine.
Read more »
'Everyone is scared': Protesters arrested across Russia as backlash to Vladimir Putin's mobilisation growsPresident Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia's first wartime mobilisation since World War Two, in what Western countries described as an act of desperation in the face of a losing war.
Read more »
Long queues form across Russia as men flee the country to avoid Putin's military mobilisation orderSome Russian men have rushed for the exits after President Vladimir Putin's military call out, with traffic at border crossings surging and prices for flights from Moscow skyrocketing.
Read more »