A familiar scene of mass exodus is once again unfolding along Russia’s southern border with Georgia, reports the American outlet Politico. More than 113,000 Russians left the country last week through the Verkhny Lars border checkpoint—a surge in traffic reflecting growing fears that the Kremlin is gearing up to announce a new mobilization campaign.
In recent months, Russian authorities have adopted increasingly aggressive military recruitment measures, intensified the collection of data on reservists, and expanded the powers of Rosgvardiya (the Russian National Guard)—all of which is fueling speculation about a new draft.
Georgia has witnessed such a cross-border influx before. In September 2022, when President Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilization that drafted roughly 300,000 people following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Georgia became one of the primary destinations for those seeking to leave Russia, Politico recalls. As one of the few countries in Eastern Europe allowing Russian citizens visa-free entry, Georgia took in over 100,000 Russians in just a single week.
Russia’s military reserve consists primarily of men under the age of 55 who have completed compulsory military service. One year of military service is mandatory for every Russian male aged 18 to 30, with certain deferrals and exemptions for health reasons and continuing education.
“Even with all the signs pointing to an increased likelihood of a new mobilization, Putin appears keen to avoid it.” The outlet cites Alexei Tabalov, founder of the human rights organization Shkola Prizyvnika (Conscript’s School), which defends the rights of conscripts and military personnel. According to him, an official mobilization “would mean that things on the frontline are going poorly, and that Putin is a bad commander-in-chief.”
