Ukraine war: Russia to open war enlisting hub on Georgia border
28-09-2022, 08:11

Font size: [ A+ ] / [ A- ]

Russia is to open an army enlisting centre on the border with Georgia, where massive queues have formed as Russian men try to flee the country to avoid being sent to fight in Ukraine.

Officers at the Verkhniy Lars crossing will be tasked with serving summons to "citizens of the mobilisation age", the authorities say.

Recent satellite images have shown queues going for miles from Russia.

All those crossing into Georgia look exhausted, a BBC correspondent says.

They are hungry and sleep deprived - but relieved to have reached safety, Rayhan Demytrie says. People have been coming in groups of walkers, dragging their suitcases behind them. Others have arrived in car or on bikes.

One man, Ilya, showed our correspondent a polaroid of his baby daughter Arisha. He said he wanted to see her grow up, and not die in the senseless war in Ukraine.

Dima and Zhenya, two brothers in their early 20s, said they had travelled for days from Bashkiria - Russia's republic about 1,500km (932 miles) east of the capital Moscow.

Dima asked for a hotspot to call his mother. On the other end of the line there was a sigh of relief.

 

 

Military-age men - as well as women and young children - have been desperately trying to flee Russia

Another young man from Moscow said the reason he was fleeing was because of the man in the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin.

Everyone says the same thing: they disagree with the war - but the extent of repression in Russia makes them powerless, our correspondent says.

The interior ministry of Russia's North Ossetia republic, where the Verkhniy Lars crossing is, said 60 of its personnel had already been deployed there, describing the situation as "extremely tense".

It added that the army enlisting centre would be opened "in the nearest future".

Long queues have also been reported on Russia's border crossings with Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev vowed on Tuesday to protect the safety and welfare of Russians fleeing a "hopeless situation".

The Russian defence ministry on Tuesday said it would not seek the extradition of Russian nationals travelling abroad to avoid being drafted into the army.

President Putin announced what he described as a partial mobilisation on 21 September, with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu later saying 300,000 reservists would be called up.

But reports in opposition Russian media suggested that up to one million people could be called up, pointing out that the actual number of those who would be enlisted was classified.

A number of military experts in the West and Ukraine say Mr Putin's decision to call up reservists shows that Russian troops are failing badly on the battlefield in Ukraine - more than seven months after Moscow launched its invasion.

In an unusual move on Monday, the Kremlin admitted that mistakes were being made in its mobilisation drive, amid growing public opposition across the vast country.

"There are cases when the decree is violated," Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that "all the errors will be corrected".

On Tuesday, Sergei Baranovsky, the top official responsible for war mobilisation efforts in the extreme north-eastern Magadan region, was sacked.

Multiple reports - backed by footage on social media - say people with no military experience, or who are too old or disabled, are being called up.

Since the mobilisation announcement, more than 2,000 people have been detained at protests across Russia.

"We are deeply disturbed by the large number of people who have reportedly been arrested," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said on Tuesday.

In one of the most shocking and widely-discussed incidents, a man shot and critically injured an army recruitment officer in the Siberian city of Ust-llimsk on Monday.

 

BBC

Comments: 199
#159   Alisa
      
With an extensive range to choose from, we'll make sure you get the products you need.


Stop by my web blog; solar roofing (5giay.vn)
15 February 2026 19:55
#158   Adriene
      
Professional temporary measures preventing escalation.

Here is my web-site; metal roof installation
15 February 2026 15:29
#157   Lauren
      
Investment in AI talent, fintech-driven innovation, and
cloud integration is supporting competitive differentiation.

Here is my homepage ... epdm roofing (https://forums.anglican.net)
15 February 2026 10:05
#156   Darnell
      
That said, if you're in the market for higher-quality and
longer-lasting products, such as Redland and Marley roof tiles,
we also have a wide selection of premium
roof restoration tiles too.
15 February 2026 09:13
#155   Dotty
      
The benefits of VELUX CABRIO® balconies Do you lack outside space?


Take a look at my homepage: re-roofing
15 February 2026 07:36
#154   Norma
      
Market maturity and investment appetite vary by region, creating unique growth opportunities.



My web site - roof inspection (https://zebra-tv.ru)
15 February 2026 07:15
#153   Christian
      
Meanwhile, emerging economies in Asia-Pacific, Latin America,
and the Middle East are witnessing rapid industrialization, urbanization, and supportive government initiatives.



Look at my website ... snow
damage roof repair
15 February 2026 05:42
#152   Vera
      
Proper records for insurance and authority purposes.


Feel free to visit my web-site ... roof tarping service (Margo)
15 February 2026 04:02
#151   Lula
      
Local building authorities enforce permit regulations to ensure compliance with safety
and environmental standards in .

Here is my web page - energy Efficient roofing
15 February 2026 03:40
#150   Lynn
      
Preventative maintenance is especially valuable for homes near golf course communities
and open developments where roofs face higher environmental exposure.


My site; emergency roof repair
15 February 2026 03:24
#149   Rickie
      
Often, a flat or low-slope roof suits single-storey extensions because it keeps height
down and is easy to add rooflights or a green roof damage assessment.
15 February 2026 03:24
#148   Ashley
      
Lakefront exposure and steep-pitch homes Roofing Near Me Jaycox Road often require more intensive stabilization measures.
14 February 2026 22:59
#147   Raquel
      
Metal roofs are known for their durability and long lifespan, but like all roofing materials, they
can develop leaks over time.

My web page :: roof underlayment
14 February 2026 21:52
#146   Arianne
      
Roof Financing in Avon makes roofing projects affordable with flexible payment
plans.

Check out my blog - Re-roofing
14 February 2026 21:21
#145   Deana
      
Our expertise ensures reliable service for properties of all sizes,
making us the preferred choice for organizations that demand quality and professionalism.


Also visit my homepage ... leak repair (Arthur)
14 February 2026 21:21
#144   Victoria
      
It’s advisable to have your roof
restoration
inspected at least once every three years.
14 February 2026 21:06
#143   Taren
      
Call immediately for emergency assessment and rapid professional
solutions.

Also visit my web blog: roofing
14 February 2026 18:53
#142   Kyle
      
Growth is often concentrated in regions with strong technology adoption, industrial investment, and favorable regulatory
frameworks.

Take a look at my web blog - roof framing repair (https://Myteamspeak.ru/)
14 February 2026 18:20
#141   Cathy
      
A roof sealing replacement is no small task and to some people can be quite overwhelming.
14 February 2026 18:14
#140   Eden
      
We install and service flat best roofing company systems on retail buildings,
offices, warehouses, and mixed-use properties near Downtown Wellington and along State Route 58.
14 February 2026 17:57
Add Comments

Name:*
E-Mail:
  Geo Keyboard  
 

Dear reader, guardian.ge welcomes your comments. Please express your views on topic and be respectful of others.

bold italic underline strike | align left centered align right | Ensert smilies insert linkInsert protected URL Choice the color | hidden text insert quote Convert selected text from transliteration to Cyrillic alphabet Insert spoiler

Code: *


Back1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next