Russia Sees Widespread Protests After Draft Order

Reuters reports:

Some draft-age Russians headed abroad on Thursday to escape their country’s biggest conscription drive since World War Two, while explosions shook southeastern Ukraine on the eve of referendums planned there by pro-Moscow separatists.

President Vladimir Putin’s new mobilisation campaign escalates a war that has already killed thousands, displaced millions, pulverised cities, damaged the global economy and revived Cold War confrontation.

Anti-war protests in 38 Russian cities saw more than 1,300 people arrested on Wednesday, a monitoring group said, with more planned for the weekend. Some of the detainees had been ordered to report to enlistment offices on Thursday, the first full day of conscription, independent news outlets said.

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WATCH: Large protests in Russia against Putin’s attempt to call up 300,000 more soldiers for his failing invasion of Ukraine.

They’re chanting “no to war.”

pic.twitter.com/D2sEk3EFMj

— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) September 21, 2022

As mobilization begins in Russia, sold-out flights, protests and arrests https://t.co/Ap3SGgpAwZ

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 22, 2022