The day after Putin announced partial mobilization, Norway has canceled the visa agreement with Russia. – It is scary to hear that it will be even more difficult to get a visa. It’s a very big limitation for those who don’t want to go to war and kill people, says Polina Vorobeva (20) to news. Around 400 Russians live in Kirkenes. There are strong connections both economically and culturally, and many have split families, says Vorobeva. She believes the difficult situation is now getting even worse for Russian war opponents. It will not be impossible, but in practice it will be much more difficult for Russians to go to Norway. – It should really be easier. The people are suffering. Many would not support Putin, and many are against the war. Just when they need help, they are turned down and that is very disappointing. Many will fly out President Putin has called the attack on Ukraine a “special operation”, not a war. On Wednesday, he nevertheless announced a partial mobilization, limited to men with previous military experience. Several sources reported record prices and a big rift over plane tickets out of Russia to neighboring countries that do not require a visa. Many fear that men of fighting age may be refused to leave the country. Those who succeed should not be prevented from coming to Norway or other countries, says Vorobeva. She believes it will affect the situation at the front if Russian men flee their homeland. – That there will be fewer people coming, that there will be a weaker attack. There are a lot of people who don’t want to go to war. Demonstrations broke out in 37 cities in Russia when it was announced that the army would mobilize the reserve forces. This woman was arrested in Moscow. Photo: Dmitry Serebryakov / AP Demonstrations The mobilization order from Putin sparked demonstrations in 37 Russian cities on Wednesday, according to the human rights organization OVD-Info. They report that over a thousand people were arrested. Far from all the Russians in Kirkenes dare to show open opposition to the war. They do not know what kind of consequences it can have for themselves or their family in their home country. – I am against the war. I never thought I would experience this in my lifetime, says an artist who wishes to remain anonymous. She is keen to show that her fellow artists are against the attack on Ukraine. – That is why it is important to preserve artist collaboration that goes across national borders. It is important to keep the borders open and talk to each other, discuss problems and questions, also about the war. Sølve Solheim in the Finnmark police district fears no drama at the border with Russia, but is prepared for whatever may come. Photo: news No increased traffic at Storskog The border crossing at Storskog in Sør-Varanger shows no signs of Russian men trying to leave Russia. – The traffic over Storskog is as of today normal, and we see no change given the events of the last few days, says Sølve Solheim, section leader in the Finnmark police district. In an area on both sides of the border, many of the residents have so-called border resident certificates, which make it possible to cross the border quite freely. But since the Consulate General in Murmansk is closed, it is currently not possible to renew the certificate. Reports of long lines of Russian men entering Finland on Wednesday turned out to be fake news. The Finnish authorities say to verkächt.no that the video from what was supposed to be a queue at the border was filmed in green surroundings this summer. Now there are autumn colors in Finland. The police in Finnmark have a close dialogue with Finnish border guards and the Finnish authorities, says Solheim. Currently, there are no reports that give any cause for concern. – But we are prepared for the situation to change quickly. We have a plan to follow if the situation changes. Both verkächt.no and news get confirmation from the Finnish border authorities that there is a slight increase in the traffic of Russian citizens – 4,800 this Wednesday compared to 3,100 a week ago. Polina Vorobeva demonstrated against the mobilization outside the Russian consulate in Kirkenes on Wednesday. The sign is a play on words: No to mobilisation, no to burying. Photo: Kristin Humstad / news
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Asking Norway to open the borders for Russian men who do not want to fight in Ukraine – news Troms and Finnmark
