In Russia, Men Of Draft Age Are Being “accidentally” Removed From Flights
16- 20.08.2026, 8:08
- 10,866
The Kremlin has imposed covert restrictions.
A covert mechanism has emerged in Russia to restrict travel abroad for men of mobilization age. Officially, there are no bans, but in practice, the situation is different.
This was reported by the “ATESH” partisan movement.
“While the authorities claim that there are no plans for mobilization, unspoken instructions are already in effect at border crossings,” the partisans’ statement reads.
According to the movement’s sources among border service and airport employees in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg, men of draft age are being sent for additional checks. As a result, people are simply missing their flights—even if their documents are in order and there are no official restrictions.
Who is subject to the unofficial ban
According to “ATESH,” Russian border guards have been instructed to remove only a certain percentage of those attempting to leave the country from flights.
The reason cited by activists is the authorities’ fear of provoking a wave of panic among the population. That is why the Kremlin is trying to avoid any official publicity surrounding this practice.
How This Works in Practice
According to the movement, airport staff simply stall for time using standard excuses: they ask about the purpose of the visit, inspect personal belongings, or spend a long time verifying tickets.
The person is taken aside and held, ostensibly to run a database check. After boarding for the flight has closed, the passport is returned, and the passenger is sent home—without official documents or an explanation for the delay.
Context
Amid fears that dictator Putin will announce a full-scale mobilization this fall after the elections, over the past few days, 40,000 people have left Russia for Georgia. The Verkhny Lars border crossing is seeing a “crowd” of Russian men.
It has also been reported that there are increasing signs in Russia pointing to heightened mobilization readiness. The authorities are already looking for new ways to replenish the army.
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