More than 1.1 million Russian citizens fled their homeland for Georgia, Armenia, and Serbia between July and September 2026, marking the highest quarterly departure figures in 17 years according to data cited by the Ukrainian outlet United24media.
The spike in departures was driven by fears of a potential new military mobilization to secure additional forces for the ongoing war in Ukraine, Il Messaggero reported.
Border control figures from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), published on November 9 by the Russian news agency Verstka, show that departures to all three destination countries reached peak levels since comparable tracking began in 2010.
Record Departures to Georgia
Georgia recorded the highest influx, with approximately 660,300 Russian arrivals during the third quarter of 2026. This total represents an increase of 43,300 people compared to the previous record set during the same period in 2025.
The third-quarter figures for 2026 surpassed by 43% the numbers logged during Russia’s partial military mobilization in 2022. Between July and September of that year, approximately 461,200 Russians entered Georgia following Moscow’s directive to draft additional troops.
Arrivals in Armenia and Serbia
Armenia received 402,300 arrivals from Russia in the third quarter of 2026, up from 344,700 during the corresponding period of the previous year.
Serbia also logged a record high, welcoming roughly 64,800 Russian citizens between July and September. That figure exceeded the previous year’s total by about 14,000, surpassing the prior quarterly peak of 53,200 arrivals recorded in 2024.
FSB statistics encompass all recorded departures, including tourism, business trips, and temporary travel. The raw figures do not distinguish between permanent emigration and short-term journeys.
Russia lost soldiers and faces secret mobilization fears
On the military front, Russia lost nearly 23,000 soldiers over a ten-day period, while unconfirmed reports indicate the Kremlin intends to mobilize further forces. Bloomberg reported on September 18 that Russian officials and Kremlin insiders anticipated a secret mobilization targeting an additional 300,000 troops, supported by an expanded digital conscription system designed to restrict international travel once electronic call-ups are issued.
Which countries received the highest number of Russian departures in 2026?
Which countries received the highest number of Russian departures in 2026?
Georgia recorded the highest total with approximately 660,300 entries from Russia during the third quarter of 2026, followed by Armenia with 402,300 arrivals and Serbia with 64,800 arrivals.
How do the 2026 departure numbers compare to the 2022 partial mobilization?
The 660,300 arrivals recorded in Georgia during the third quarter of 2026 exceeded the 461,200 entries logged during the partial military mobilization period between July and September 2022 by 43%.
What source provided the border control statistics?
The border control data originates from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and was detailed in a November 9 report by the Russian news agency Verstka, as cited by United24media and Il Messaggero.
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