ULAANBAATAR: Thousands of Russians fled into Mongolia across its northern border in a bid to evade Conscription to Ukraine, putting further pressure on the government in Ulaanbaatar and its efforts to distance themselves from the conflict.
Russians were forced to queue for hours at the border crossing in Kyakhta in the ethnic Mongol province of Buryatia, but said they had little choice after President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of 300,000 troops to counter a counter-offensive in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
My country has started partial mobilisation and I think it is negatively affecting society, said one. We waited a very long time on the Russian side of the border: about 16 hours. Suren Bat-Tur, owner of a guest house in the capital Ulaanbaatar that usually caters for backpackers, has also helped his friends in Buryatia escape the draft.
Since Putin's mobilisation order, the guest house has filled with Russians, and Bat-Tur said he has already turned away dozens of requests for beds.
It has been very difficult to help them, I wanted to help them, said Bat-Tur. They are looking for work in agriculture or construction so they have something to do while they are here. One newly arrived guest, identified as Aleksey, said he crossed into Mongolia last weekend, leaving behind his wife and three children. He arrived at the border late at night on a tourist bus packed with other young Russians.
There were a lot of young people, a lot of people trying to get away from Putin, he said.
Aleksey, 40, a construction worker, plans to stay in Mongolia until the situation in Russia improves, and said he would do whatever it takes to avoid the war.
We are not afraid, but why do we have to fight in Ukraine? He asked. If other countries attacked Russia, we would fight for our country. Why is it that we are going to Ukraine?