Flights from Russia quickly sold out on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin ordered the immediate withdrawal of 300,000 troops from the reserve.
Putin’s announcement, made in a televised speech on Wednesday, stoked fears that some men of military age might not be allowed to leave Russia.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said recruitment would be limited to those with professional military experience, not just students or recruits.
However, data from Google Trends showed a sharp increase in searches on Aviacell, the most popular website for buying airline tickets in Russia.
Tickets from Moscow to Istanbul, Turkey and Yerevan, Armenia, two visa-free destinations for Russians, sold out on Wednesday, according to airline data.
Some indirect flights are no longer available, for example flights from Moscow to Tbilisi, the cheapest flights from Moscow to Dubai cost more than 300,000 rubles (US$5,000), almost five times the average monthly salary.
Source: EuroNews
