Ukraine Defence Ministry Tweets Suggestion For Russian People

Russia claims to have a reserve force of 2.5 crore people...

A Tweet by Ukrainian Defence Ministry suggested for the Russian people, many of whom are leaving their country after President Vladimir Putin announced "partial mobilisation," which means calling on thousands of military reserves for active duty in the ongoing war, and raised the spectre of a nuclear attack.

"Russians are now actively Googling how to avoid mobilization and stay alive," read the tweet by Defense of Ukraine, "They would have been better off Googling instructions for making Molotov cocktails when there was still time." Molotov cocktails homemade 'petrol bombs' — were a motif of the Ukrainians' resistance against Russian forces when the invasion began seven months ago.

Taking notes from the Tweets, it referenced reports that Google searches for the phrase "How to leave Russia" spiked in the country ahead of President Putin's speech. One-way air tickets out of Russia, too, swiftly sold out as the President's address raised fears that martial law could be imposed and men of fighting age would not be allowed to leave. There were long traffic jams on Russia's border with Finland as those with visas sought to cross over.

The mobilisation, Russia's first such move since the Nazi onslaught in World War 2 — is the escalation of the Ukraine war since the invasion began in February. It comes after Ukraine's recent pushback reclaimed several areas from the Russian forces and the militias it backs.

Meanwhile, it is being described as "partial", hence will draw in over 3 lakh reservists over months. Russia claims to have a reserve force of 2.5 crore people.