Turkey braces for fresh influx of Russians as Putin announces mobilization

Prices of international flights from Russia to countries where Russians can visa-free travel skyrocketed within hours following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s partial mobilization announcement.
Russian "Marina" shows her Russian passport as she poses for a photo in a hostel in Belgrade, on March 17, 2022.
Russian "Marina" shows her Russian passport as she poses for a photo in a hostel in Belgrade, on March 17, 2022. In the weeks following the invasion, Serbia has become a haven for many Russians hoping to escape abroad. - VLADIMIR ZIVOJINOVIC/AFP via Getty Images
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Monitor Staff

Prices of flights to Istanbul from Moscow and other major Russian cities jumped by more than 100% today due to high demand following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of partial mobilization in the country.

The cost of a one-way ticket from Moscow to Istanbul ranges from $1,500 to $4,000, up by more than 100% from a day ago, according to Google Flights search data.

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