After Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilisation of the Russian armed forces to support the war in Ukraine, Russian nationals frantically made preparations to leave the country.

Flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Istanbul, Yerevan, and Tbilisi were all sold out on 21 September, according to major websites such as Skyscanner.

Tickets vanished overnight on 20-21 September while Russia awaited Putin’s talk, according to various sources.

The Russian-backed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics proposed referendums on annexation into Russia on 20 September 2022.

After these comments were made public, Russian media announced that Putin would address the country that evening.

Reports claimed a complete or partial mobilisation of the Russian population to aid in the war effort against Ukraine might be part of the announcement.

Initially set for 20 September at 5:00 PM GMT, Putin’s speech was postponed until the following day.

Reports of Russian flights selling out began to surface on 21 September.

At the same time, seats on flights to Asia from the eastern areas of Russia were all booked up. Local media also reported that flights from the Buryatia autonomous republic in Siberia to Mongolia’s capital of Ulan Bator had sold out overnight and that travel company in both countries were inundated with demands to sell more seats.

Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has stated that initially, 300,000 reservists will be conscripted, with further mobilisation efforts perhaps taking place more than once.