Russians Are Fleeing To Georgia To Avoid Mobilization
- 19.08.2026, 15:45
Record-long lines at the border crossing in Verkhniy Lars.
Tens of thousands of Russians have decided to travel to Georgia amid rumors of a possible new wave of mobilization this fall. Russia’s Federal Customs Service (FCS) reported “record passenger traffic” at the border crossing in Verkhny Lars. According to its data, on August 15 and 16, more than 19,000 people crossed the checkpoint into Georgia each day, and on August 18, more than 20,000. “Current figures significantly exceed those for the same periods in previous years,” the FCS noted.
According to eyewitnesses cited by “Beware, News”, a massive traffic jam has formed on the Russian side of the border, with cars moving at a speed of 50 meters per hour. Upper Lars is the only land border crossing between Russia and Georgia. In late September 2022, it became the busiest crossing on Russian territory—due to the mobilization announced by Vladimir Putin, tens of thousands of Russians were leaving the country and were stuck in a traffic jam stretching for several kilometers for several days.
Prior to that, Russians had sharply increased demand for rental apartments in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, as reported by “Versтка.” “The situation is generally comparable to 2022,” one local real estate agent told the publication. As a result, rental prices rose by 30%, and Russians began looking for options to share rentals with strangers. At the same time, as noted by the Telegram channel “Meters in Drams,” which covers real estate in Armenia, there are no longer any “decent options” available for rent.
Earlier, sources at “Verstka” reported that following the September State Duma elections, the authorities might impose martial law in the country and carry out a mobilization. Rumors about the latter have been circulating for several months. In particular, analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote about preparations for a new mobilization. Some European officials who spoke with The Washington Post also did not rule it out. According to them, the Kremlin might take such a step if heavy casualties on the front lines continue.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Putin intends to send “between 300,000 and 500,000 people” to the front as part of the new mobilization. He explained this by noting that, according to his data, since the beginning of the year, the Russian Ministry of Defense has recruited 221,000 contract soldiers, but casualties over the same period have reached 225,500, of whom 131,000 were killed.