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One-way flights out of Russia 'selling out fast' as Putin calls up 300,000 troops to Ukraine

In this image made from video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)
Russian president Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in Moscow in a televised address. (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)

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."

Read more: Vladimir Putin's nuclear bomb threat is aimed at London, ex-advisor rants on BBC

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.

Watch: Former advisor to Vladimir Putin says West will be to blame for nuclear war in BBC rant

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).

In this handout photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu speaks in televised remarks in Moscow, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia, in a measure that appeared to be an admission that Moscow’s war against Ukraine isn't going according to plan after nearly seven months of fighting. Only those with relevant combat and service experience will be mobilized, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the call-up would be limited to those with experience as professional soldiers. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

"First reports of eligible men turned away from border crossings to Georgia. People are still able to fly out but tickets are sold out."

Despite rumours of border closures circulating social media, Russian Railways and airline Aeroflot denied reports that they had been ordered to ban men aged 18 to 65 from buying tickets.

Latvia, a member of the European Union which borders Russia, will not offer refuge to any Russians fleeing Moscow's mobilisation due to security concerns, the country's foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics said.

Putin was initially due to deliver his televised address to the nation on Tuesday night, but for an unknown reason, postponed it to Wednesday morning.

Read more: World should prepare for collapse of Russia, warns former US general

During this time, Google searches for "how to leave Russia" spiked in the country, as pointed out by Mozhem Obyasnit.

The Telegram channel founded by Russian dissidents said residents in Russia's far eastern territory of Khabarovsk, which borders China, had a particular interest in fleeing.

In a statement on Twitter, Ukraine's defence ministry said: "The Russians were given 12 hours of rest, so Google could answer all the questions, including the question of what is the average life expectancy of a Russian a soldier in Ukraine."

Meanwhile, UK defence secretary Ben Wallace said Putin’s call-to-arms was an "admission that his invasion is failing".

In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have staged a fierce counter-offensive in south and east of the country, forcing Moscow to concede swathes of territory.

A firefighter extinguishes a fire after a flat was hit by a missile strike in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on September 15, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. - Thick white smoke, visible for miles around, rises over Bakhmut: this Ukrainian-controlled town in the Donbas is still under Russian offensive pressure despite the retreat of Moscow's troops in the northeast. (Photo by Juan BARRETO / AFP) (Photo by JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)
A firefighter extinguishes a fire after a flat was hit by a missile strike in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on 15 September. (AFP via Getty Images)

Russian troops left behind valuable military equipment and vehicles as they retreated from the region surrounding the city of Kharkiv, suggesting they were forced to leave in a hurry.

It is unclear whether Russian frontline forces have “sufficient reserves or adequate morale” to withstand another concerted assault in eastern parts of Ukraine, UK defence intelligence analysts said.

They believe Moscow has established a defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove after being pushed back by Ukraine.

The zone is viewed as important partly because it sits along the border of the Luhansk region, part of the Donbas, which Russia has sought to “liberate” as one of its key war aims.

Any substantial loss of territory here would “unambiguously undermine” Putin’s strategy for the conflict, the experts say.