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© Thomson Reuters 2022.Russian draft prompts exodus by some men as air fares jump
By Jake Cordell and Essi Lehto TBILISI/VAALIMAA, Finland©2023 GPlusMedia Inc.
16 Comments
Olegek
Today, a referendum starts on accession begins in 4 regions of the former Ukraine to Russia
Donetsk region, Luhansk region, Kherson region and Zaporozhye region
Congratulations are accepted.
variety of western media?
Sorry - I have access to info from both side of conflict.
Not you.
Strangerland
They're sheep, to be herded off to Ukraine to die for Putin's ego. Hopefully their families will be deep into the Russian propaganda machine so they can feel good about supporting the deaths of their family members for Putin's go. Say good bye with pride Russians.
Haaa Nemui
Grass is pretty green on that mural. It's always greener on the other side.
Nemo
Yeah, they're called fire men. They put out fires started as a result of arson.
Olegek
Much more Russian men yesterday headed swiftly toward recruting stations.
The recruiting stations are overcrowded.
many have been rejected - and it was a scandals
ClippetyClop
With its enormous mineral wealth Russia and its citizens should be amongst the most prosperous in the world. They clearly aren't, and this is due to Putin.
Somebody close to Putin should slot him, for the good of Russia.
Haaa Nemui
People being dragged away from protests screaming "I don't want to die for Putin" and being forcefully conscripted are being told it's their civic duty. Only person with any civic duty is Putin... to protect his citizens... and he is failing miserably. People have said this before... it's Russia's Vietnam.
starpunk
A new 'Vietnam' for Russians. And if men in their 40s and 50s are getting draft notices, I hope they don't stand for this at all. They're at the age they can remember Afghanistan 1979-1989 and how it sucked up Soviet resources and manpower (just like it has American in this century), and they can remember the Chechan wars of the 90s-00s which were devasting too.
Putin has over the years put the Russian Army into many conflicts trying to become a 21st Century Czar. And it has only benefitted himself. Nobody else.
If he really is trying to draft all these men, I hope they rebel. This Ukraine war and the resulting UN sanctions are a total screw-up of the 5th magnitude. Since Gorbachev recently died and many Russians (and others) remember the promises that were broken after the Cold War era, I hope the Russians take the time to recall those times and get rid of Pudding-Head soon. The recent wave of 'building jumps' and this draft shows that he is desperate now. How about showing this oaf the DOOR?
Nemo
Pretty tough to fight when your own recruits rebel.
What are they going to do when the new soldiers surrender in large numbers to Ukraine?
Putin is in a spot domestically which is the only spot he really cares about.
Bob Fosse
“Russian state-owned pollsters say that more than 70% of Russians support what the Kremlin calls the "special military operation", though polling leaked in July showed an even split between those who wanted to fighting to stop or continue.”
Half of Russians are against this war. From a Russian state owned poll. Remember that next time the usuals try to tell us Russians support putin.
wallace
Hundreds of thousands are trying to leave with cars. Thousands demonstrated in Moscow. Even mentioning the war could lead to 15 years in prison.
Watch: Sped-up footage appears to show large queues at the Russia-Georgia border
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62996212
The Russian-Finland border is closed. As are the Baltic countries.
theFu
I saw a fact checking website with quotes that a claimed 35 km traffic jam leaving Russia into Finland wasn't true.
https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-Russia-Finland-traffic-583686762728
Since all the news Russian people see is 1-sided, from Putin, they don't have the full story of what's happening in Ukraine. I suspect there is some disinformation about fighting-age men trying to leave Russia too - certainly some are, but probably not in the numbers being estimated.
I just hope that Russia doesn't need to see 25M dead before they end this.
High airfares should be expected, since only 2 airlines are flying between Russia. All the European airlines stopped all Russian service, especially after the Russians decided to steal over 400 aircraft. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/12/business/russia-airlines-planes.html
Strangerland
People are throwing molotov cocktails in the streets now. In Russia. Putin's so weak, he can't even be an effective dictator. What a loser.
The Avenger
“The Western establishment and, in general, all citizens of the NATO countries need to understand that Russia has chosen its own path,” Mr. Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel. “There is no way back.”
Yes Medvedev , Russia has chosen its own path. A path to defeat, embarrassment, pain, death and collapse of Russia as it is known now. Bad path choice.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2022/09/22/russias-medvedev-strategic-nuclear-weapons-can-be-used-to-defend-new-regions/29583#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Western%20establishment%20and%20all%20citizens%20of%20Nato,its%20own%20path%2C%E2%80%9D%20Medvedev%20said.%20%E2%80%94%20Reuters%20Advertisement