At least one Russian border crossing is armed to the teeth as young people try to flee President Vladimir Putin’s mobilization order that would send them to war in Ukraine.
The FSB, Russia’s Federal Security Service, admitted on Monday that it had sent at least one armored personnel carrier to cross the border between Russia and Georgia into North Ossetia – where young men were sent to fight in Ukraine. Trying to leave the country before.
Russian outlet RBC reported the developmentCiting an FSB source.
The security service denied that it was setting up a checkpoint at the border, and instead had an armored vehicle for crowd control.
“The armored personnel carrier is moving there, but it is not moving to establish a checkpoint, it is largely a reserve in case the reservists want to break through the checkpoint and without completing any border formalities. want to leave the country,” the FSB told the outlet. “For this purpose only.”
“The [border crossing] Working as usual, there are no restrictions placed on the exit of male civilians of military age,” the FSB source continued.
However, the militarization of the Georgian border post is in line with what other Russian media outlets report as the Kremlin plans to close the border to military-aged men.
independent Russian outlet Meduza cited Kremlin insider on Sunday when it reported plans to require exit visas this week for international travel.
Reportedly, men of military age will need to obtain permission before leaving the country, part of a plan rumored to take effect on Wednesday – When the results of Russia’s sham referendum in Ukraine are expected,
The alleged plan has the support of some Russian lawmakers, including Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council of Russia, the country’s upper house of parliament.
“Everyone who is of enlistment age should be banned from traveling abroad in the current situation,” he told RIA news agency.
But the Kremlin has pushed back reports it plans to close the border.
“I know nothing about this,” Putin press flak Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters on Monday. At present no decision has been taken on this.
Russia’s so-called “partial mobilization” – which ordered the drafting of some 300,000 men for fighting in Ukraine – has caught the spark Protest, Violence and Border Races,
Although Russian President Vladimir Putin initially stated that the order only referred to those already serving as reservists in Russia’s military, There have been reports of students and old people being employed in the service from across the country.,
post with wires