patrick.net

#russiamobilization As of two days ago, some 923,000 Russian men had fled the country to avoid induction into the Russian Army with a quick trip to Ukraine. This is as if the whole population of San Jose, California, or San Francisco, California fled the United States.
Are these people fleeing raising a moral protest? No, they are literally running for their lives. As I have pointed out previously when a man or a woman puts on a military uniform and goes into a combat zone, statistically only 5% will be seriously wounded or killed.
When Russia invaded Ukraine 7 months ago, 150,000 troops were deployed. Seven months later, some 80,000 of these men have died. (Statistically, there are 3 troops wounded for every soldier killed. This indicates 240,000 soldiers were wounded.) These are the kind of casualties the Red Army took when fighting the Nazis in World War II. A young man going to war in Ukraine has a very high probability of being killed or severely wounded.
Let us turn to what awaits the 923,000 men who flee Russia and end up in Finland, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, etc. One of our readers left Zimbabwe years ago as these Russian men are doing now. She came to the US with two suitcases and some US dollars. She started her life over and made it. Each one of these men will have to start their lives over with limited resources. The countries accepting them are being compassionate and helping them as best they can (Work permits, etc.). Each man will have to learn a new language and suffer poverty for many years before they adapt to their new country. I have had to start my life over in countries. I know what they will experience. It will not be an easy ride!