Zelensky calls on the UN to strip Russia of its right of veto

Rush on flights from Russia after the recall of reservists

Prices for one-way flights from Russia soared on Wednesday in the face of strong demand after Vladimir Putin announced the immediate recall of 300,000 reservists. The televised address on Wednesday morning raised fears among some men of military age that they would soon be banned from leaving the country. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu nevertheless declared that the “partial mobilization” only concerned men with military experience, not conscripts or students. The Kremlin declined to say whether the borders would be closed to those targeted by the mobilization order and asked the public to be patient while waiting for the law to be clarified.

Meanwhile, Google Trends data showed a spike in searches for Aviasales, Russia’s most popular booking site. Direct flights from Moscow to Istanbul in Turkey and Yerevan in Armenia, two countries that allow Russians to enter visa-free, were full on Wednesday, according to Aviasales data. Flights from Moscow to Istanbul via Turkish Airlines were either all booked or unavailable until Sunday at 2:15 p.m. Moscow time (1:15 p.m. in Paris).

Some stopover routes, including those from Moscow to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, were also unavailable, while the cheapest flights to Dubai cost more than 300,000 rubles (5,029 euros), about five times the price. average monthly salary in Russia. One-way fares to Turkey have reached 70,000 rubles, up from just over 22,000 rubles a week ago, according to data from Google Flights.

The director of the Russian tourism agency said no restrictions had been imposed on foreign travel at the moment. Aeroflot, the national airline, said it was not limiting ticket sales.

source site-29