A number of Russians are leaving the country or contemplating such a move, citing fears of a new mobilization for the war in Ukraine and a perceived decline in personal freedoms. This exodus, while not as large as in 2022, has seen an increase in inquiries to organizations that assist citizens fleeing abroad.
One individual, a 28-year-old digital content marketer who spoke anonymously due to security concerns, described leaving Russia for Georgia this summer. He cited "the political situation" and government restrictions on internet access as primary reasons for his departure, stating he would not have left for an extended period otherwise. He had previously fled in 2022 to avoid a partial military call-up but returned in 2025, only to find his remote work increasingly complicated by internet clampdowns.
Anastasia Burakova, founder of the organization Kovcheg, reported a significant increase in queries from individuals preparing to emigrate. While current border traffic is not indicative of a mass exodus, "we’re seeing that people are preparing to emigrate, we’re seeing that people are looking into what options are there," she told The Associated Press. Yan Slovitsky, an urgent assistance coordinator for Kovcheg, described a "panicked wave" of emigration since mid-July, linked to mobilization fears, a fuel crisis, and internet restrictions.
Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have suggested Russia is planning another mobilization after the recent State Duma election, claims that the Kremlin has repeatedly denied. A Moscow-based diplomat noted a "palpable rise in public anxiety this summer," with anecdotal evidence of more Russians appearing in neighboring Georgia and Armenia, possibly due to fears of another mobilization.
Concerns about military service extend to those who might not have been eligible in peacetime. A 23-year-old Muscovite, also speaking anonymously, left the country last month due to persistent mobilization rumors and worries that her husband, whose deferment had expired, could be drafted. "A person can figure anything out, but we were really afraid that (my husband) could end up in the army, because at this point it is a one-way ticket," she said.
Beyond mobilization fears, some Russians are leaving due to a broader sense of shrinking freedoms and economic uncertainty. A 35-year-old Russian preparing to leave expressed a desire to live in a country with free speech, citing propaganda in schools and a declining economy. "Now, he said, Russians 'live in a huge digital jail. You can’t say anything, you can’t do anything. You have absolutely no rights,'" according to the anonymous individual.
Other departures are linked to specific crackdowns. Queer activist Daniil Neonov left this summer after detentions and a jail term related to social media posts featuring a rainbow-colored print, which authorities have linked to outlawed "extremist" movements. He expressed fear of further criminal charges and noted that others have left after being detained for supporting the opposition Yabloko party, the only party on the parliamentary ballot that openly opposed the war.
Russia has not formally declared war on Ukraine, though it imposed martial law in illegally annexed Ukrainian regions in 2022. The country has also faced Ukrainian drone attacks, which have impacted the e-commerce sector and been used to justify internet restrictions.