Relief and concern for loved ones back home drive the flow of Russians who landed in Istanbul on Saturday to flee the Kremlin’s announcement of a partial mobilization of its reservists to continue its offensive in Ukraine.
Since Wednesday, when President Vladimir Putin announced the first mobilization in Russia of men of combat age since the Second World War, the price of some tickets from Moscow has increased tenfold.
Among the people they met, carrying their hastily packed belongings, no one wanted to give their full name for fear of reprisals from the Russian police against those who did not leave.
All describe an anxiety they had not felt since the early days of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor on February 24.
“We have spoken to our friends and many are thinking of leaving,” says Daria, 22. “Not everyone wanted to leave in February. The decision of September 21 forced many of them to think about it again”.
Her husband Andrei, 23, says he had been thinking about leaving since the early days of the war. Mobilization was the straw that broke the camel’s back. “A lot of people decided to leave right away,” he says.
Fear of border closures
Putin’s mobilization order aims to conscript hundreds of thousands of troops after a series of setbacks appear to have changed the course of a seven-month war.
Turkey, one of the main holiday destinations for many Russians, is one of the few countries that still offer flights from Russia. And he does not ask them for a visa, facilitating last-minute trips.
Flights to Turkey therefore snapped up as soon as Mr Putin’s TV announcement led to skyrocketing ticket prices that made escaping too expensive for many.
Turkish Airlines also started using larger planes on its routes to Russia because it could not immediately schedule more flights.
“Turkey is our intermediate destination. We are here temporarily because there is a risk that the borders will be closed for good,” explains Daria.
Sasha, a 48-year-old entrepreneur, says he knows people who try to run away but can’t. “I think a lot of people would like to leave Russia but there are very few flights,” he told AFP at the airport.
According to him, it is difficult to assess the true state of mind of the Russians after the mobilization order, because some still support the war and are ready to fight. “There is no consensus in Russia at the moment. Some people support Putin, some people don’t.
Also, many are afraid to speak their minds, he says. “Of course, we feel pressure. In Russia, there is a facial surveillance system. And if someone sees your face, it’s very easy to identify who you are”.
“This interview could be interpreted as being bad for the Russian army. In the future, people who give an interview like this could have problems,” he adds.
Andrei says he is particularly worried about one of his childhood friends. “My friend couldn’t buy a ticket because it already cost 400,000 rubles (about CA$9400). It is ten times more expensive than before”.