Kazakhstan confirms increase in arrivals from Russia following “partial mobilization”

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Kazakh authorities have confirmed Friday an increase in the number of people crossing the border from Russia, after Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed on Wednesday a “partial mobilization” because of the war in Ukraine.

The Kazakh National Security Committee’s Border Guard Service has indicated that the 30 border crossing points are “functioning routinely” and added that “the situation is under special control,” Kazinform Kazakh news portal reported.

“The Border Guard Service and authorized state agencies are ensuring security and tranquility at the border crossing points and interacting with their Russian colleagues,” he detailed in a statement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday branded as “exaggerated” reports of large queues at the country’s airports to try to leave Russia. “Information about the disruption at airports is greatly exaggerated. There is a lot of false information about it,” he said.

Putin on Wednesday framed the decision as “necessary and urgent measures to protect Russia’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity” and warned that Moscow will use “all means” in case of a “threat to Russian territorial integrity.” “This is not a bluff,” he maintained.

For his part, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu detailed that about 300,000 reservists will be called up and has pointed out that this “partial mobilization” will affect 1.1 percent of the country’s mobilization resources.