Tens of thousands of Russians have decided to leave for Georgia amid rumors of a potential new wave of mobilization this autumn, reports The Moscow Times. The outlet cites Russia’s Federal Customs Service (FTS), which reported “record passenger traffic” at the Verkhny Lars border crossing.
The Moscow Times also references the Telegram channel Ostorozhno, Novosti, which circulated photos from the checkpoint: “A massive traffic jam has formed on the Russian side of the border, with cars moving at a speed of 50 meters per hour.”
The publication notes that in late September 2022, the Verkhny Lars checkpoint became the most congested along the Russian border—following Vladimir Putin’s mobilization decree, tens of thousands of Russians fled the country, waiting in a multi-kilometer queue for days.
Meanwhile, according to the outlet Verstka, demand among Russians for rental housing in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, has surged sharply. “The situation is broadly comparable to 2022,” a local real estate agent told the publication. Consequently, rental prices have jumped by 30%, and Russians have begun looking for flat-sharing arrangements with strangers. Additionally, as noted by the Armenian real estate Telegram channel “Metry v Dramakh” (Square Meters in Drams), there are practically no “decent options” left for rent.
Earlier, Verstka’s sources reported that following the September State Duma elections, authorities could impose martial law across the country and launch a new mobilization drive. Rumors regarding the latter have circulated for several months. In particular, analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have reported on preparations for another mobilization. Several European officials who spoke to The Washington Post did not rule it out either, noting that the Kremlin could take this step if high casualties on the front lines persist.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Putin plans to deploy “between 300,000 and 500,000 people” to the front lines as part of a new mobilization. He attributed this to data indicating that while Russia’s Ministry of Defense has recruited 221,000 contract soldiers since the beginning of the year, its casualty figures over the same period have reached 225,500 personnel, including 131,000 killed in action.
It should also be noted that on August 19, shortly after the Russian Customs Service reported record traffic at the Verkhny Lars checkpoint, Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a statement. The ministry refuted reports alleging that 20,000 Russian citizens had entered through the border crossing within a 24-hour period.
