Russians are searching Google en masse for ways to flee the country to avoid mobilization
In Russia, against the backdrop of a possible mobilization, a domestic gasoline crisis, and attacks on major online marketplaces, there has been a sharp increase in public interest in the process of obtaining travel documents and options for urgent travel abroad.
According to an analysis of Google Trends and Yandex data published by the outlet “Mozhem Ob’yasnit,” search volumes for certain queries have reached five-year highs.
In June 2026, the Russian search engine Yandex recorded over 26,000 queries for “how long does it take to get a passport,” an all-time high for the period under review. Compared to the end of 2024, this figure has tripled, and in Moscow, this has already led to long lines and complaints from citizens due to a lack of available slots for processing documents. Google Trends shows a similar trend, with this search query reaching a peak of 100 points in May 2026 for the first time in five years.
At the same time, searches for countries with visa-free entry and the legal nuances of crossing the border are on the rise. The number of searches for the phrase “travel without a visa” in June rose by 118% compared to the beginning of last year, while the search term “exit permit” approached its all-time high. At the same time, the search term “exit visa” reached a five-year peak on Google Trends, with its July 2026 figure doubling the previous record set in 2023.
Source: We Can Explain.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia is preparing a new wave of mobilization involving at least tens of thousands of people. According to him, the situation was discussed during a detailed meeting on defense issues. The head of state also heard reports from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andriy Gnativ.
Russia may announce another mobilization this fall amid the difficult situation on the Ukrainian front, the failure of the winter-spring offensive, and significant losses. This was stated by State Duma Deputy Andrei Gurulov, who linked the possible decision to Russia’s military setbacks in the war against Ukraine.
