Russia: Mass exodus as 113,000 flee amid mobilization fears

Over 113,000 Russians fled the country through the Verkhny Lars border crossing into Georgia in a single week, driven by fears of a new wave of military mobilization. This surge in departures follows reports from Ukrainian intelligence suggesting the Kremlin may plan to call up hundreds of thousands of reservists by the end of the year.

Russian authorities have intensified recruitment efforts and are implementing more aggressive methods to track personnel. These include collecting personal data of reservists, such as the addresses of their relatives, and utilizing digital summons. Under current regulations, electronic military orders are issued immediately and automatically trigger a ban on leaving the country.

Legal experts and human rights organizations, such as the School of the Conscript, report that the government is increasingly targeting men of military age. There are concerns that recruitment may involve buses arriving at workplaces to collect employees directly. While the Kremlin officially denies plans for mass mobilization, the increased activity of the National Guard and the systematic gathering of reservist data suggest preparations for expanded military service.