BBC News:
For many Russian men the Kremlin’s decision to call up 300,000 military reservists for the war in Ukraine came as a shock.
In the big cities, Russia’s seven-month war on its neighbour has always seemed a long way away. But as soon as President Vladimir Putin’s address was over, it hit home. Being sent into combat was closer than anyone could have imagined.
Office messaging chats exploded with anxious discussions of what would happen next. Plans were made on how to avoid being sent to the front line.
“It was like a sci-fi movie from the 1980s. A bit scary to be honest with you,” says Dmitry, 28, who works in an office in St Petersburg. Staff could not start their working day, glued to the speech on their TV, computer and mobile phone screens.
He excused himself from the office after lunch and went to exchange roubles for dollars at a nearby bank.
Dmitry moved house after he was paid a police visit for taking part in an anti-war rally – believing it would be harder for authorities to find him.
“I am not certain what to do next: jump on the next plane abroad or stay in Russia a bit longer and get chased by the cops at a couple of anti-war rallies.”
Sergei – not his real name – has already been called up.
A 26-year-old PhD student and lecturer at a prominent Russian university, he was expecting a delivery of groceries the night before the Putin address when the doorbell rang. Instead, he was faced with two men in civilian clothes who handed him military papers and asked him to sign.
The BBC has a copy of these documents, asking him to attend a draft centre on Thursday.
