Informal checks on men at Russian airports. Reports on the activities of the services

Inspections without a formal ban

Atesh, citing information from employees of the Russian border services and airports, said that similar cases would concern Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

According to the movement, informal restrictions are applied to some men. There is no official ban on leaving the country. Passengers are to be detained under the pretext of checking documents, luggage or the declared purpose of the trip.

According to Atesz, checks are deliberately extended, as a result of which travelers may miss their scheduled flights.

The organization notes that officers do not detain all men of military age. According to her, selective actions are intended to limit the risk of causing panic and publicity.

Reports in the background of possible mobilization

Atesz's reports appear during discussions about a possible further mobilization in Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously said that Moscow may be preparing to announce it in the fall.

On August 14, the British "The Guardian", citing its own sources, reported that the Kremlin was not currently planning to formally announce mobilization. In turn, the Financial Times wrote about the growing pressure of the authorities on potential contract soldiers. In this way, Russia will try to fill staff shortages in the army without triggering more widespread conscription.

What is Atesh?

Atesh is a Ukrainian-Tatar military-partisan movement operating since 2022 in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea, as well as on Russian territory. Its name comes from the Crimean Tatar word "ateş", meaning "fire".

Representatives of the organization declare that they conduct reconnaissance activities, collect information about Russian troops and infrastructure and provide it to the Ukrainian army.