IStories: Russia to close borders for citizens subject to mobilisation on 26 September

Starting from 26 September, all Russian men subject to mobilisation will be prohibited from going abroad, reports Russian independent media outlet IStories, citing an ex-employee of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). 

However, a Moscow airport source told IStories that the ban will be partial: border guards will receive lists of people not allowed to cross the border. 

Previously, several media, citing their sources, reported that the Russian government was planning to close the borders for men of military age after the end of the “referendums” on joining Russia in the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk “people’s republics”, the Russia-occupied Kherson region of Ukraine, and the occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhia region. Meduza, citing a source in the presidential administration, claims the borders will be closed on 28 September. 

The Verstka outlet does not name a specific date, however, it reports, citing a parliamentary source, that the borders will be closed before Vladimir Putin’s address to the Federation Council (the upper house of the Russian Parliament) on the subject of annexation of the territories where the “referendums” are currently being held. According to Verstka, the address will take place on 30 September. 

Today, it was reported that several citizens that meet the criteria of the “partial” mobilisation and are trying to leave Russia were given out notices at the borders, according to which they are not allowed to leave the country — based on a military commissariat decision. There have been reports of at least five such cases.