Exodus in the Kremlin Empire: Expert warns of "the most terrible blow to the Russian economy"

Created: 06/10/2022 15:02

By: Patricia Huber

Russia's partial mobilization has led to a flight of skilled workers.

Experts warn that this could have serious consequences for the economy in the future.

Moscow – Vladimir Putin's partial mobilization has triggered a mass exodus in Russia.

The president wants to call up 300,000 reservists for the Ukraine war and has announced that he will use all "available means" to protect his territory.

But these same "means" are now fleeing - and with them a large number of important workers and smart people.

Russia's partial mobilization leads to the flight of skilled workers

"In the seven days since President Putin announced partial mobilization, a significant exodus of Russians seeking to avoid conscription has begun," the UK Defense Ministry said, citing intelligence findings.

Exact numbers are unclear.

But the number of those who left the country probably exceeds the strength of the invading army with which Russia attacked Ukraine in February.

According to estimates, Moscow had deployed around 150,000 soldiers on the border with the neighboring country.

The ministry explained that this resulted in a "brain drain" for the country, i.e. a loss of skilled workers.

"Among those trying to leave Russia, the better off and the well educated are overrepresented," it said, including many IT experts.

Gerhard Mangott, an expert on Eastern Europe and a professor of international relations at the University of Innsbruck, made a similar statement

The fugitives would be particularly people "who are more critical of the regime," he told

War in Ukraine: Russia conscripts conscripts directly at the border

Russia has meanwhile begun to take action against the flight.

A so-called mobilization center should therefore be set up at a border crossing to Kazakhstan.

There the passports of those leaving the country should then be compared with the draft list.

According to the regional administration, anyone who falls under the mobilization criteria and does not have an official postponement or an exit permit is not allowed to leave the country.

Tougher action is now also being taken on the border with Georgia.

According to Russian information, more than 180 conscripts have already been stopped trying to flee before being drafted into the military.

The Interfax agency reported that they were handed a call-up notice directly at the Werchni Lars border crossing

Pictures of the escape: Aerial view of a traffic jam on the Russian-Georgian border.

Many reservists are leaving Russia to avoid having to go to war in Ukraine.

© Valery Sharifulin/Imago

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Expert: Russia's economy faces 'most terrible blow'

But the 180 stopped men should only be a drop in the ocean.

The great exodus of skilled workers could have serious consequences for the Russian economy.

Because the workers who do not flee are sometimes sent to war.

There is therefore no threat of a direct collapse of the Russian economy.

Finally, commodity sales are still a stable pillar.

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But the brain drain of so many skilled workers is likely to have long-term consequences.

The Russian economics expert Oleg Buklemischew from Moscow State University warns of the "most terrible blow to the Russian economy." Because the expert knowledge that migrates with the people across the border is therefore missing in the country.