joselync
09-21-2022, 07:47 PM
One-way flights out of Russia have reportedly started selling out after Vladimir Putin ordered the immediate call-up of 300,000 reservists.
On Monday, the Russian president announced the partial mobilisation of the country's military reserves following a humiliating defeat in Kharkiv.
In a chilling threat, he added Moscow would respond with the might of its vast arsenal if the West pursued what he called its "nuclear blackmail" over the conflict, adding: "I'm not bluffing."
Putin added: "If there is a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and for protecting our people, we will certainly use all the means available to us."
The mobilisation is Russia's first since the Second World War and signifies a major escalation of the conflict, which is now in its seventh month.
However, the early-morning television address appears to have led many Russians to see to flee the country.
The Russian government has yet to announce which citizens will be exempted, though defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the call-up would be limited to those with experience as professional soldiers, and that students and those who had only served as conscripts would not be called up.
Nevertheless, according to the Reuters news agency, Google Trends data showed a spike in searches for Aviasales, which is Russia's most popular website for purchasing flights.
Other analysts have reported other flights already being sold out.
RTE Europe editor Tony Connelly tweeted: "All tickets for flights to Yerevan, Armenia and Istanbul, Turkey as well as to Tbilisi, Georgia from Russia reportedly sold out shortly after speech given by President Putin."
Tickets to Azerbaijan Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have also been selling fast, according to Aviasales.
New York Times correspondent Valerie Hopkins added: "Direct flights from Moscow to Istanbul & Yerevan, which allow Russians visa free entry, were sold out on Weds.
"Some routes w stopovers, like Moscow-Tbilisi, were also unavailable. Cheapest flights MSK- Dubai were >300K RUB ($5,000) - 5x avg monthly wage."
Maria Antonova, a former journalist for the AFP news agency, tweeted: "Panic in Russia over announced mobilisation (which is not really 'partial' if you read the decree carefully rather than listen to speeches).
On Monday, the Russian president announced the partial mobilisation of the country's military reserves following a humiliating defeat in Kharkiv.
In a chilling threat, he added Moscow would respond with the might of its vast arsenal if the West pursued what he called its "nuclear blackmail" over the conflict, adding: "I'm not bluffing."
Putin added: "If there is a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and for protecting our people, we will certainly use all the means available to us."
The mobilisation is Russia's first since the Second World War and signifies a major escalation of the conflict, which is now in its seventh month.
However, the early-morning television address appears to have led many Russians to see to flee the country.
The Russian government has yet to announce which citizens will be exempted, though defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the call-up would be limited to those with experience as professional soldiers, and that students and those who had only served as conscripts would not be called up.
Nevertheless, according to the Reuters news agency, Google Trends data showed a spike in searches for Aviasales, which is Russia's most popular website for purchasing flights.
Other analysts have reported other flights already being sold out.
RTE Europe editor Tony Connelly tweeted: "All tickets for flights to Yerevan, Armenia and Istanbul, Turkey as well as to Tbilisi, Georgia from Russia reportedly sold out shortly after speech given by President Putin."
Tickets to Azerbaijan Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have also been selling fast, according to Aviasales.
New York Times correspondent Valerie Hopkins added: "Direct flights from Moscow to Istanbul & Yerevan, which allow Russians visa free entry, were sold out on Weds.
"Some routes w stopovers, like Moscow-Tbilisi, were also unavailable. Cheapest flights MSK- Dubai were >300K RUB ($5,000) - 5x avg monthly wage."
Maria Antonova, a former journalist for the AFP news agency, tweeted: "Panic in Russia over announced mobilisation (which is not really 'partial' if you read the decree carefully rather than listen to speeches).