Market Desk (New York): Putin’s new mobilization campaign escalates a war that has already killed thousands, displaced millions, pulverized cities, damaged the global economy and reinforced Cold War confrontation.
Russia’s borders were overcrowded on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reserves. Desperate to leave Russia, the country’s men crowd the borders. Traffic pressure was observed in the border area of Finland and Georgia.
In addition, various social media groups are offering advice on how to leave Russia. On the other hand, a Russian news site published a list of ‘where to escape from Russia now’.
In a televised address on Wednesday, President Putin announced the partial mobilization of Russia’s 300,000 strong reserves. After Putin’s announcement, sales of one-way tickets increased in Russia.
After Putin’s televised speech early Wednesday local time, many feared that men of a certain age would not be allowed to leave Russia.
However, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Putin’s announcement would be limited to those with experience as professional soldiers. Students and those who have worked only as recruits will not be called.
Still, all direct flights from Moscow to Istanbul and Yerevan, Armenia, were sold out on Wednesday, according to Google Trend data from Aviacell, Russia’s most popular site for buying airline tickets. Both of these countries allow Russians to enter without visa.
Tickets for many other routes including Moscow to Georgia are also sold out. Apart from this, the fare of flights from Moscow to Dubai has also increased almost 5 times.
Addressing world leaders at the annual UN General Assembly in New York, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the UN to create a special tribunal and band Moscow of its Security Council veto power.
‘A crime has been committed against Ukraine and we demand just punishment,’ Zelenskiy, dressed in trademark green military T-shirt, said by video on Wednesday.
By Lisanur Rasul
