War against Ukraine - Over 600,000 Russians have fled abroad since the war started
Since the beginning of the Russian aggression war, at least 650,000 Russians have permanently moved abroad, according to media reports. The majority of the refugees have emigrated to Armenia (110,000), Kazakhstan, and Israel (each 80,000). Russians reportedly do not need a visa to enter these countries.
Germany is also a preferred destination for Russian refugees, with over 36,000 people having moved there. However, there is no official information from Moscow on the number of emigrants.
Limited Survey
"The Bell" states that the calculations were based on data from migration authorities. Data from over 70 countries were taken into account, such as newly issued residence permits or asylum applications. However, the data is not complete, as some popular destinations for Russian emigrants like Thailand, Azerbaijan, or Cyprus did not respond to requests for information.
Other countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, to which many Russians have moved since the war began, were not included in the calculation. Among the emigrated Russians, there may not only be war opponents but also many people who have set up businesses elsewhere to bypass sanctions.
EU quickly closed borders for war refugees
The number of refugees who have fled to Europe is relatively low, as the EU quickly closed its borders to Russia. War draft evasion alone does not constitute a ground for political asylum. Therefore, besides Germany, only Spain (+16,000) is among the top 10 destination countries for Russian emigrants among EU members.
- Despite the conflicts in Ukraine, Russia's offensive war has also led to a significant number of refugees seeking asylum in other countries, such as Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Israel.
- Germany, despite being a European Union (EU) member, has remained a preferred destination for Russian refugees, with a substantial number of people seeking refuge there since the beginning of the war.
- Interestingly, Russia, the origin of these refugees, does not provide official numbers regarding the number of emigrants from the country.
- In fact, many Russians have headed to countries like Armenia and Israel, which do not require visas for entry by Russian citizens, which could potentially contribute to the lack of recorded data.
- Conversely, Germany, although a popular destination, has not seen a comprehensive disclosure of refugee numbers from Moscow, potentially due to diplomatic or political reasons.
- Meanwhile, Kazakhstan, another destination for Russian refugees, has also seen a considerable number of emigrants, joining the ranks of Armenia and Israel in providing refuge to those fleeing the ongoing war.
- As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, it remains to be seen if other European countries or non-EU nations will open their doors to Russian refugees looking for safety and asylum.
