Long lines at Russian borders as over 1,94,000 residents flee mobilisation

Over 194,000 Russian nationals have fled to neighbouring Georgia, Kazakhstan and Finland — most often by car, bicycle or on foot — in the week since President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation of reservists. (AP Photo)

The mass exodus of men — alone or with their families or friends — began September 21, shortly after Putin’s address to the nation, and continued all this week. (AP Photo)

Several of those leaving snagged airline tickets, despite spike in prices of the few airlines still flying out of Russia. Others had to gas up their cars and join the long lines snaking on roads toward the borders. This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies on Sept. 26, 2022, shows an overview of the border crossing between Russia and Mongolia, at the Khyagt border post. (AP Photo)

According to the online service Yandex Maps, the traffic jam leading to Verkhny Lars, a border crossing into Georgia from Russia’s North Ossetia region, stretched for about 15 kilometres (over 9 miles) on Tuesday. This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows people and vehicles queuing for crossing the Upper Lars checkpoint on the Russian-Georgia border. (AP Photo)

Social media showed hundreds of pedestrians lining up at the checkpoint after Russian border guards relaxed regulations and allowed people to cross on foot. (Reuters)

Similarly, long queues were reported at some crossings into Kazakhstan. In photo, Russian citizens queue outside a public service centre in the city of Oral, Kazakhstan. (Reuters)

The Interior Ministry of Georgia said over 53,000 Russians have entered the country since last week, while Interior Ministry officials in Kazakhstan said 98,000 had crossed into its country. (Reuters)

The Finnish Border Guard agency said over 43,000 arrived to their country in the same period. Media reports also said another 3,000 Russians entered Mongolia. (Reuters)

Russian authorities sought to stem the flow, barring some men from leaving and citing mobilisation laws. (Reuters)

Georgia is somewhat apprehensive about the influx of Russians, especially after the country fought a brief war with Moscow in 2008, while Kazakhstan seems more welcoming. (Reuters)