Key neighboring countries have announced restrictions to keep from being flooded with fleeing Russians, as a result of President Vladimir Putin's move to use compulsory military service for the war in Ukraine.
Cars from Russia are waiting in long lines at the border checkpoint. The photo was taken by OLIVIER MORIN/ AFP.
The flights from Russia to neighboring countries that did not require visas sold out quickly after Putin announced a partial deployment of military reserves.
Many Russians decided to drive out of the country because of the lengthy wait times at the Georgian border, which do not require a travel visa for Russians.
In response to a surge of Russians trying to flee there this week, it was decided that the borders would be closed to Russian tourists.
Nine European Union countries decided earlier this month to stop accepting Russian travel visas.
The EU increased the maximum wait time for a visa approval decision from 15 days to 45 days in order to discourage Russians from traveling.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser welcomed Russians looking to escape the war. She said that anyone who dares to oppose Putin's regime can file for asylum.
2,450. The New York Times reported on how many cars were in the line.
In a pre-recorded address on Wednesday, Putin said 300,000 reserve soldiers would be activated to serve as reinforcements inUkraine. Many Russians were unconvinced that the draft only applied to those already in the reserves. Putin's move came after a series of defeats for the Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, where they have ceded dozens of settlements back to the Ukrainians.
Since the start of the invasion in February, there have been the most widespread anti-war protests in Russia. According to OVD-Info, more than 2,080 demonstrators have been arrested. Some of the people arrested are being drafted into the military, a move that the Kremlin spokesman defended this week as not against the law.
Russia drafted protesters into the military.
The flights to sell out are caused by panic in Russia.
The military says it has reclaimed several towns and cities in the past day.
Putin hired 300,000 Reservists to fight in Ukranian as he supported referendums in Russian territories.
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