Thousands of Russians are trying to dodge conscription into Putin's army
Thousands of Russians are trying to dodge conscription into their army by fleeing to the US via Mexico to claim asylum, immigration lawyers have claimed.
Many are afraid Russia's invasion of Ukraine will leave Putin wanting more people to join up to bolster his troops.
Ukraine has already banned men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country in a bid to guarantee the country's 'defence and the organisation of timely mobilisation' and many Russians are escaping before their homeland takes similar steps.
Only 467 Russians were stopped at the US-Mexico border in 2020 but after Russian dissident Alexei Navalny's arrest, that figure jumped to 9,376 for 2021
This year the numbers are continuing to increase. Last month alone 1,028 Russians tried to cross the border.
