In Russia, the announcement of the mobilization by Vladimir Putin, even partial, causes a lot of concern, even a movement of panic among men who fear being sent to Ukraine. Some have decided to flee their country.
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The movement is visible in airports where flights to Armenia, Serbia and Turkey are full. Ticket prices are skyrocketing: a one-way ticket can cost more than 4,000 euros. Among these deserters, there is Nikolaï*. He was in Moscow when he saw Vladimir Putin’s speech on Wednesday September 21.
Nikolai is not a reservist, and is not likely to be mobilized immediately, but he does not trust his government at all. In the evening of Wednesday, he took the plane. “I decided that I had to leave, I didn’t want to be drafted. I have absolutely no desire to take part in this war. I packed my bags and took the plane. I bought a ticket for a crazy amount of money but I don’t regret it at all. I feel safe now”he explains.
Nikolaï was interrogated at the airport, the police kept his passport for several minutes but he was finally able to pass. He had prepared papers to justify a business trip. This screening was confirmed by other witnesses. Some men seem to have been blocked at the border, but many Russians still manage to leave.
“I know that many of my friends are trying to leave and buying tickets for anywhere. All tickets from St. Petersburg and Moscow are sold out for the next few days,” he details. But, Nikolaï has friends who will not be able to run away: “Unfortunately, I have a lot of friends who have done their service, who are reserve officers… I comfort them, I try to help them”.
“I hope they manage to get out otherwise they will have to hide somewhere in Russia.”
Nikolai thinks he won’t be back in Russia for a long time: “I don’t see how I could go back to the country at the moment. I don’t know how you can raise children in a country with a compulsory class on Mondays where you explain how Nazism thrives in Ukraine. It saddens me , I feel bad, I’m in pain. Russia is beautiful but I don’t see any other options for me”. In Moscow, Nikolai’s partner sells the furniture and all the couple’s belongings. She will join him soon.
* the name has been changed