A country under pressure. Since Vladimir Putin spoke last September, during which the Russian president announced the partial mobilization of 300,000 men to reinforce the contingent already present in Ukraine, an entire sector of Russian society has been under the threat of an enlistment more or less voluntary.
Among the most recalcitrant, the young adults, the most prone to mobilization, who entered fully into this previously abstract and distant conflict, which the Kremlin still limits itself to calling a “special military operation.”
“How are we going to be able to cross this border?”
Since these announcements, tens of thousands of young Russians have gathered at the borders with Finland, Kazakhstan or Georgia, in an attempt to escape from the front. Among them, Nikita, a filmmaker who has never in his life held a gun and who refuses to go to fight in the Ukraine. For our long format Ligne Rouge, Russia, desertersBroadcast this Monday on BFMTV, the young deserter agreed to film his escape attempt.
The first images of this exclusive report show the young man, in the company of friends, learning about the decision made by Finland last week to drastically reduce the arrival of Russian citizens to its territory. “Here is the latest news. I just got home, I was with friends, everyone is in shock, ”said he, who still thought he could reach Scandinavian territory.
“The EU should be lenient and say, ‘guys, don’t close the border.’ Shit! But how are we going to be able to cross this border?”, she laments.
This Saturday, Finnish border guards announced that since this restriction, the number of Russian citizens entering Finland has dropped sharply, from 5,200 on Thursday to just under 1,700 on Friday night.
“What a bastard, what an asshole”
Despite these obstacles, Nikita will try to cross to Finland. For BFMTV, the young man immortalizes his last moments with his wife, whom he will have to leave indefinitely. “I don’t think I’ll take this baby coat, I’ll stick with the black one. This one is too bulky, it’s not going to be practical,” he told his partner, as if he was just going on a trip.
“What a bastard, what an asshole, how could we let him do that. It’s really crazy, crazy”, he suddenly bursts out against Vladimir Putin, as the game becomes clearer.
After a heartbreaking farewell, Nikita shares her first impressions as she sets off for the north of the country. “My suitcase is ready, I’m leaving. Tomorrow I will try to cross the border between Russia and Finland. It only remains to do it. I have abandoned my wife and my dog. It is very painful, very painful”, she explains again.
A society on the verge of explosion
In recent days, the pressure on potential deserters has grown. Vladimir Putin in person thus signed in person a decree that increases the sanctions in case of desertion, exposing offenders from now on to a prison sentence that can reach up to ten years. In addition, the Russian authorities have announced that they will stop issuing passports to those mobilized.
However, these coercive measures do not seem to calm the growing discontent on Russian soil. Within a few days, several incidents were reported at the mobilization offices, where a soldier was seriously injured. A young man also set himself on fire so as not to be drafted into the Russian army.
To this must be added that several countries have decided not to take action against deserters who enter their territory. Thus, neighboring Kazakhstan, where 98,000 Russians have already taken refuge, assured that the latter would not be expelled to Moscow. Further west, some countries such as Germany have already expressed their willingness to take in Russian citizens leaving their country.
Source: BFM TV
