Queues of up to 26 hours have reportedly built at border crossings as thousands of Russians fled the country in fear of being drafted into the military for the war in Ukraine.
The exodus of fighting-age men comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the ‘partial mobilisation’ of 300,000 reserve troops from across Russia this week, with everyday citizens fearing they will be forced to fight.
The numbers travelling into Finland, the last EU country that allows entry to Russians with tourist visas, have doubled since last week, according to Satu Sikanen, the regional mayor for south Karelia, which borders Russia.
Ms Sikanen said Finnish authorities planned to introduce “significant restrictions”, with Finland’s president and ministerial committee proposing to impose visa and entry curbs to Russian citizens scrambling to leave.
There were reports of traffic jams stretching back more than 18 miles at the border with Georgia, which is still open and one of the last remaining countries that doesn’t require a visa for Russians.
One driver told the BBC he had been stuck in the queue for more than 26 hours, with nowhere to get food or go to the toilet.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis vowed his country would refuse to harbour Russians trying to enter in order to avoid conscription,
Urging Russians to protest, go AWOL, disobey or mutiny instead, he tweeted. “Lithuania will not be granting asylum to those who are simply running from responsibility.
“Russians should stay and fight. Against Putin. Asylum for 25 million draft dodgers is not an option. Russians must liberate Russia.”
Following the mobilisation announcement, prices for flights out of Moscow soared above £4,000 for one-way tickets to the nearest foreign locations, with most air tickets sold out completely for the coming days.
