Sergei Rasokhin says he spent two years in hiding before finally escaping military service in Russia and recently making it to safety in Armenia.The country took in many Russians dodging the draft in 2022-23 and now, amid growing fears of a new mobilization in Russia to boost a military depleted by the war on Ukraine, there are some indications that the numbers of Russians coming to Armenia are again rising.There have also been recent signs of this in other countries that saw an influx of Russians in 2022-23, but the evidence is patchy and sometimes conflicting.
In any case, if the Kremlin decides to announce a new wave of mobilization, it may wait until after parliamentary elections next month -- meaning those hoping to avoid it still have time.Two Years In HidingRasokhin told his story to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service from the safety of Yerevan, home to a thriving community of Russians who have fled the increasingly repressive environment in their homeland under President Vladimir Putin in recent years.He said his life changed completely two years ago when, to deal with financial problems, he voluntarily signed a contract to join the Russian Army. He was told he would serve as an auto mechanic -- but soon learned he’d been tricked.“The sergeant laughed at me. He said: ‘You were deceived. They will take you to the front line with 95 percent certainty. Don’t hope for anything else,’” Rasokhin said.Rasokhin said he ran away from his unit and spent two years on the run, moving on from one location to another every few months, until he was eventually captured by military police.
