…Researched and contributed by Femi Taiwo.
Putin’s Desperate Measures to Stop Citizens Leaving: Russia Closes Borders to Avoid Call-Up to Ukraine War
Russian President Vladimir Putin is shutting down the country’s borders to prevent people from leaving, as he struggles to call up enough soldiers to fight his ongoing war in Ukraine.
Last month, Putin signed a decree demanding another 147,000 troops be added to his depleted army, with call-ups beginning on April 1.
Since his troops first entered Ukraine more than a year ago, he has lost approximately 723,000 troops, including more than 182,000 killed in action and roughly 541,000 so injured that they can no longer serve.
Closing Borders to Prevent Citizens from Avoiding Call-Ups
According to Ukraine’s special forces, Putin has burned through 80.4% of the 900,000 soldiers he originally had at his disposal.
In an effort to boost his army numbers with mandatory call-ups, Putin is now going to extreme lengths to prevent people from leaving the country.
Reports suggest that all new call-ups are being conducted digitally, making it easier for authorities to block people from exiting the country.
Meduza, an anti-Kremlin Russian news outlet, reported that the legislation lays the groundwork for the creation of a digital registry of draft-eligible citizens and eliminates the requirement that a military summons be served in person.
This allows the government to issue draft orders online or by registered mail instead.
Additionally, it deprives draft dodgers of numerous rights, making it illegal for them to leave the country, drive a car, buy property, or take out loans.
Desperate Measures as Victory Slips Away
The President’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed that this is a one-time call-up and that there will be no second wave.
While not directly confirming the border closures, he said that the move was part of refining the military registration system.
These desperate measures suggest that Putin may be feeling the strain of the ongoing war in Ukraine as victory slips away.
With his army already suffering heavy losses, the prospect of further losses, coupled with a lack of new recruits, is cause for concern.