More than 1,300 people were held on Wednesday night across 38 cities, including at least 300 in Moscow after Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to partially mobilize reserve members of the nation's armed forces.
Russians have long faced the possibility of detention for attending anti-government demonstrations, but since the invasion's start on 24 February, military censorship has also muted them. Moscow protesters shouted, "No to war!" as well as "Life to our youngsters."
Russians Risk Their Feedom to Protest Putin's War
'No mobilization!' were the demonstrators' slogans in St. Petersburg. Men throughout Russia, including some who had attempted for months to ignore the messy war in Ukraine, suddenly found their lives thrown into upheaval when they were called to duty within hours of President Vladimir Putin's speech proclaiming a partial military mobilization on Wednesday.
Written notices were delivered to the men mostly reservists under 35 with army experience and lower military ranks in their workplaces or homes. In some instances, individuals had their identification documents examined in public and were instructed to show up for a health examination. Others received orders over the phone.
Meanwhile, worried family members started looking for methods to leave the country or otherwise escape having their loved ones called to duty. Flights to the few foreign cities still providing direct service to Russia were unexpectedly sold out.
Sanctions have shut off most destinations. Google search trends revealed an increase in requests for information on "how to escape Russia" and even how to break an arm at home, leading some to believe that some Russians were considering self-harm as a way to avoid the war.
Sky News correspondent Diana Magnay stated in a report from the capital that protesters were being treated brutally and praised the masses for being "extraordinarily brave" for publicly expressing their opinions in a police state. At the beginning of the conflict, thousands of people participated in anti-war demonstrations despite the possibility that they would lose their jobs or possibly end up in jail but, today, a lot of people are reluctant to voice their opinions.
Multiple uniformed officers were seen around individual demonstrators in video of the altercations. As one woman attempted to prevent police from detaining another male demonstrator, she was observed being led away by an escort, according to The Washington Post via MSN.
More Citizens Urge to Leave Russia
Since Putin's mobilization declaration, one-way flights from Russia to its neighbors have either totally sold out or gone through the roof in price.The flights suggest that some Russian nationals may be seeking to leave the nation to escape the mobilization order, which might heighten concerns about the border controls that started when the invasion first began.
On Turkish Airlines' website early on Wednesday, tickets for Friday were selling for 172,188+ rubles (or roughly $2,805). According to the RBC Group, a Moscow-based media organization, tickets provided on Aviasales, Russia's most well-known air travel booking website, could not be purchased for travel before Friday to the capital cities of Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan.
There were no flights on Aeroflot, Russia's premier carrier, from Moscow to Dubai until September 28 and they cost 110,565 Rubles (about $1,800). In response to the price increase, Aeroflot and S7, another Russian airline, reportedly declared they were not restricting ticket sales.
After Putin's speech, Sergei Shoigu, Russia's defense minister, announced that approximately 300,000 reservists will be called up for the conflict in Ukraine. Although US officials have estimated that some 15,000 Russian troops have died in Ukraine, Shoigu also revealed that almost 6,000 Russian soldiers have lost their lives there since the invasion began, AXIOS reported.
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