Russia's border with Georgia is facing another surge of people crossing. According to Politico, more than 113,000 Russians left the country through the Upper Lars border crossing this week out of fear of a new mobilization.

Although the Kremlin has repeatedly denied plans for a draft, actions by the authorities and Ukrainian intelligence services suggest otherwise.

Politico reported that in recent months, the Russian government has been intensively collecting personal data on reservists and assigning them to specific units. Furthermore, the electronic summons system immediately closes the borders to men who have been called up, eliminating the bureaucratic loopholes that existed in 2022.

At the same time, the National Guard is demonstrating increased capabilities and preparedness for mobilization, which, according to experts, indicates a tougher and more repressive approach by the state.

The authorities' attempts to avoid mass conscription are failing. The recruitment of students into the units has met only one-tenth of its target, and street raids in poorer regions have sparked public resistance.

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