Hundreds Flee Russia after Military Call-Up
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Hundreds of men are fleeing Russia to avoid serving in the military after Russian President Vladimir Putin's order for partial military mobilization on Wednesday. The call-up could see 300,000 people called into service in the war in Ukraine, and it has sparked protests in major Russian cities this week. 1,300 arrests have been reported. While the Kremlin says that the reports of the numbers fleeing are exaggerated, photos show miles-long queues of vehicles along the border with Georgia, where Russians can enter without needing a visa.
Meawhile, Ukraine's unexpected battlefield advances have reportedly left the Russian military divided over how best to respond. Russian military officers have been seen arguing amongst themselves, and Putin is himself giving directions to the generals in the field - a move that some sources say is a disfunctional tactic in the modern military.
Sources across the political spectrum are covering these developments, which mark the biggest escalation since the invasion into Ukraine began seven months ago.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Ukraine war: Russians flee to border after military call-upQueues have sprung up along Russia's border as men attempt to leave the country amid a military call-up for the war in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilisation on Wednesday, which could see 300,000 people summoned to serve in the war.
The Kremlin says reports of fighting-age men fleeing are exaggerated.
But on the border with Georgia, miles-long queues of vehicles have formed including men trying to escape the war.
One man, who did not want to be named, told the BBC's Rayhan Demytrie he had grabbed...
From the Left
Russia's military divided as Putin struggles to deal with Ukraine's counteroffensive, US sources sayRussia's military is divided over how best to counter Ukraine's unexpected battlefield advances this month, according to multiple sources familiar with US intelligence, as Moscow has found itself on the defensive in both the east and the south.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is himself giving directions directly to generals in the field, two sources familiar with US and western intelligence said-- a highly unusual management tactic in a modern military that these sources said hints at the dysfunctional command structure that has plagued Russia's war from the beginning.
Intelligence intercepts have captured Russian officers arguing among...
From the Right
Backlash grows in Russia following Putin's order for partial military mobilizationThousands of anti-war Russian protesters took to the streets on Wednesday as hundreds of others packed their bags and fled following President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a partial military mobilization.
The move marks the biggest escalation since the invasion began seven months ago and was made following a series of humiliating setbacks as well as calls from pro-war nationalists who demanded that more resources be devoted to defeating Ukraine. The partial draft would force about 300,000 Russians into military service.
By early afternoon, more than 1,300 anti-war protesters had been detained in more than a dozen cities...
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