Russian border checkpoints have seen a surge in traffic, including at this one at the Russia-Finland border on September 23. Kazakhstan, where the Cinema Park theater is located, has seen a spike in Russians arriving, authorities there have said.
SASU MAKINEN/LEHTIKUVA/AFP via Getty Images
A movie theater in the Kazakhstan city of Uralsk opened its doors to fleeing Russians.
Many Russian men are trying to flee the country after Putin announced a military mobilization.
Theater management said they see many on the streets “who are looking for an overnight stay.”
A movie theater in Uralsk, a city in Kazakhstan near the Russian border, opened its doors to those fleeing Russia.
Cinema Park announced on Saturday that it would welcome those who were leaving the country and couldn’t find shelter, after Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a military mobilization in his war against Ukraine last week.
“We see many visitors from the Russian Federation on the streets of the city who are looking for an overnight stay,” Cinema Park management said in a statement, according to Kazakh24.info. “Come to us, we understand everything.”
Cinema Park is in one of the largest shopping malls in Uralsk, according to Kazakh24.info.
Russian men have in particular been trying to leave Russia in droves, as they face potentially being drafted in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Google searches for “how to leave Russia” skyrocketed after Putin’s speech, Insider reported. Traffic has surged at the Russian border.
Kazakhstan authorities said last week that the country has seen a surge in Russians arriving, according to a story published by Reuters on Friday. One source told Reuters that they had been in a queue at the border since Thursday, and that they saw “unusually” heavy traffic.
Up to 300,000 reserves are expected to be mobilized. On Saturday, Putin signed a law that stipulates anyone who surrenders, deserts, or refuses to fight could go to prison for anywhere between three to 15 years.
The independent Russian news outlet Meduza recently reported that Russia plans to ban men of military age from leaving the country, and only those who are granted “exit visas” by enlistment offices will be able to leave.