AP

Russians rush for flights out amid partial reservist call-up

Sep 21, 2022, 6:20 AM | Updated: 1:43 pm

Passengers pass through the airport building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large ...

Passengers pass through the airport building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could Wednesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine.

Flights filled up quickly and the prices of tickets for remaining connections skyrocketed, apparently driven by fears that Russia’s borders could soon close or that Putin could later announce a broader call-up that might send many Russian men of fighting age to the war’s front lines.

Tickets for the Moscow-Belgrade flights operated by Air Serbia, the only European carrier besides Turkish Airlines to maintain flights to Russia despite a European Union flight embargo, quickly sold out for the next several days. The price for flights from Moscow to Istanbul or Dubai increased within minutes before jumping again, reaching as high as 9,200 euros ($9,119) for a one-way economy class fare.

Putin’s decree stipulates that the amount of people called to active duty will be determined by the Defense Ministry. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a televised interview that 300,000 reservists with relevant combat and service experience initially would be mobilized.

Russia has seen a marked exodus of citizens since Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine almost seven months ago. During Putin’s address to the nation Wednesday in which he announced the partial mobilization of reservists, he also issued a veiled nuclear threat to Russia’s enemies in the West.

Reports of panic spreading among Russians soon flooded social networks. Anti-war groups said the limited airplane tickets out of Russia reached enormous prices due to high demand and swiftly became unavailable. Social networks in Russian surged with advice on how to avoid the mobilization or leave the country.

Some postings alleged people already had been turned back from Russia’s land border with Georgia and that the website of the state Russian railway company had collapsed because too many people were checking for ways out of the country.

The OVD-Info monitoring group said over 800 Russians were arrested Wednesday in anti-war protests in 37 Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. Protesters in Moscow chanted “No to war!” and “Life to our children!”

Russian officials sought to calm the public, stressing that the call-up would affect a limited number of people fitting certain criteria. However, conflicting statements and a lack of details helped fuel the panic.

The head of the Duma’s defense committee, Andrei Kartapolov, said there would be no additional restrictions on reservists leaving Russia based on this mobilization. But he also advised individuals who could be eligible for the call-up against “traveling to resorts in Turkey.”

“Spend your vacation at the resorts of Crimea or (Russia’s southern) Krasnodar region,” Russian media quoted Kartapolov as saying.

A group based in Serbia, called Russians, Belarussians, Ukrainians and Serbs Together Against War, tweeted that there were no available flights to Belgrade from Russia until mid-October. Flights to Turkey, Georgia or Armenia also sold out, according to the Belgrade-based group.

“All the Russians who wanted to go to war already went,” the group said. “No one else wants to go there!”

One Russian man named Sergey said he had prepared for a Russian mobilization scenario and quickly brought his 17-year-old son out of Russia.

“The tickets didn’t cost too much, as I was probably quick enough. And we got through the border just fine,” he said upon arriving Wednesday at the airport in the Armenian capital of Yerevan.

His son, Nikolai, said, “I haven’t gotten a letter from the recruitment office yet” but he was still researching possible exemptions, “so we left.” They declined to give their last names.

Serbia’s capital of Belgrade has become a popular destination for Russians during the war. Up to 50,000 Russians have fled to Serbia since Russia invaded Ukraine in February and many have opened businesses, especially in the IT sector.

Russians don’t need visas to enter Serbia, which has not joined Western sanctions against Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. Allies such as Belarus and China also have not imposed sanctions on Russia.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who often boasts about his friendly ties with Putin, said the Moscow-Belgrade ticket price had reached 9,000 euros “on the black market” because “of the mobilization and some other things.”

He also said that “Putin won’t surrender despite advances by the Ukrainian army,” adding that the West had expected full defeat of Russia,” but that the mobilization will make it harder.

A Wednesday flight from Moscow to Belgrade was packed with young Russian men who said they could not speak to reporters because they feared negative repercussions for the families they left behind. A Russian woman, who identified herself as Yulia, said she, too, was afraid “my government and police” might see her remarks.

“But I want to say, ‘Freedom for Ukraine.’ Please, somebody stop Putin,” she said.

___

AP Writers Jovana Gec, Dasha Litvinova and Julia Rubin contributed to this story.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


              Passengers pass through the airport building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              A corridor with footprint stickers is pictured at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Vladimir, a passenger from the Moscow-Belgrade flight operated by Air Serbia, speaks to the media at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Passengers pass through the airport building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              A corridor with footprint stickers is pictured at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Passengers pass through the airport building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              A corridor with footprint stickers is pictured at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Vladimir, a passenger from the Moscow-Belgrade flight operated by Air Serbia, speaks to the media at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Passengers pass through the airport building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              A corridor with footprint stickers is pictured at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Vladimir, a passenger from the Moscow-Belgrade flight operated by Air Serbia, speaks to the media at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Passengers pass through the airport building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              A corridor with footprint stickers is pictured at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Vladimir, a passenger from the Moscow-Belgrade flight operated by Air Serbia, speaks to the media at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Passengers pass through the airport building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              A corridor with footprint stickers is pictured at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Vladimir, a passenger from the Moscow-Belgrade flight operated by Air Serbia, speaks to the media at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Passengers pass through the airport building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              A corridor with footprint stickers is pictured at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Vladimir, a passenger from the Moscow-Belgrade flight operated by Air Serbia, speaks to the media at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              In this image made from video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he addresses the nation in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)
            
              Yulia, a passenger from the Moscow-Belgrade flight operated by Air Serbia, speaks to the media at the airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could, after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              Passengers from the Moscow-Belgrade flight, operated by Air Serbia, pass through the airport building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Large numbers of Russians rushed to book one-way tickets out of the country while they still could Wednesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists for the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
            
              FILE Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attend the opening of the Army 2022 International Military and Technical Forum in the Patriot Park outside Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Putin has announced a partial mobilization in Russia as the fighting reaches nearly seven months. Putin's address to the nation on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022 comes a day after Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans to hold votes on becoming integral parts of Russia. (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

AP

Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jers...

Associated Press

3rd Republican presidential debate is set for Nov. 8 in Miami, with the strictest qualifications yet

The third Republican presidential debate will be held in Miami on Nov. 8, a day after several states hold off-year elections.

5 days ago

During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal ...

Associated Press

The fall equinox is here. What does that mean?

The equinox arrives on Saturday, marking the start of the fall season for the Northern Hemisphere. But what does that actually mean?

6 days ago

Ray Epps Ray Epps, an Arizona man who became the center of a conspiracy theory about Jan. 6, 2021, ...

Associated Press

Ray Epps, an Arizona man who supported Trump, pleads guilty to Capital riot charge

Ray Epps, the target of a conspiracy theory about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge.

8 days ago

Former President Donald Trump repeatedly declined in an interview aired Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, to ...

Associated Press

Trump refuses to say in a TV interview how he watched the Jan. 6 attack unfold at the US Capitol

Former President Donald Trump repeatedly declined in an interview aired Sunday to answer questions about whether he watched the Capitol riot.

11 days ago

This frame grab from video, provided by the Mexican government, shows Ovidio Guzman Lopez being det...

Associated Press

Mexico extradites son of ‘El Chapo,’ Ovidio Guzman Lopez to US

The son of notorious cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, Ovidio Guzman Lopez was extradited to the U.S. on Friday.

12 days ago

impeachments in US history...

Associated Press

A look at notable impeachments in US history, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted Saturday on during his impeachment trial. Here's a roundup of impeachments in U.S. history.

12 days ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Ignite Digital

How to unlock the power of digital marketing for Phoenix businesses

All businesses around the Valley hopes to maximize their ROI with current customers and secure a greater market share in the digital sphere.

Sanderson Ford...

Sanderson Ford

Sanderson Ford congratulates D-backs’ on drive to great first half of 2023

The Arizona Diamondbacks just completed a red-hot first half of the major league season, and Sanderson Ford wants to send its congratulations to the ballclub.

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

Here are the biggest tips to keep your AC bill low this summer

PHOENIX — In Arizona during the summer, having a working air conditioning unit is not just a pleasure, but a necessity. No one wants to walk from their sweltering car just to continue to be hot in their home. As the triple digits hit around the Valley and are here to stay, your AC bill […]

Russians rush for flights out amid partial reservist call-up