Putin’s Draft Order Sends 200,000 Russians Fleeing to the Border
- Long lines form at crossing points into Georgia and Kazakhstan
- Putin ordered partial moblization to send 300,000 to Ukraine
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At least 200,000 Russians left the country after President Vladimir Putin’s mobilization order in an exodus that’s causing turmoil at the borders and stirring fears in neighboring states about potential instability.
While Russia hasn’t released official data, statistics from Georgia, Kazakhstan and the European Union showed the scale of the departures. The total is likely an underestimate as other nearby countries popular with Russians including Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey haven’t disclosed arrival figures.