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Judy: As part of Vladimir
Putin's martial law declaration,
he allowed for the restrictions
of Russian movements in and out
of areas boarding Ukraine.
He has said his military
mobilization, calling up
soldiers to fight in Ukraine, is
nearing completion.
Hundreds of thousands of
Russians have fled the country,
rather than be drafted.
As Nick schifrin reports, many
have gone to istanbul, Turkey,
to escape a war they don't
believe in.
Nick: Victor is trying his best
to make his new house feel like
home.
He has maintained his morning
routine.
Squanchy the cat who fled with
him, gets her breakfast.
And he gets his coffee.
Surrounded by his children's
cups in their prized
possessions.
But he is 1000 miles from his
Russian hometown.
>> In Russia, in America or
anywhere else, no one wants to
fight, no one wants to kill, no
one wants to die.
Nick: He arrived in turkiye in
what is now called the first
wave.
Russians who fled right after
Putin invaded Ukraine in
February.
>> There was not panic, but
nervousness. People were
leaving, people were running
away with their animals.
They were flying one way.
When I arrived here, I felt a
little bit comber again.
And then life just started, we
started to get settled.
Nick: He works in fintech and
helps Russians abroad with
financial transactions.
He hopes Russians back home,
follow in his footsteps.
>> One thing that I want is that
people who still haven't woken
up, and who have been told "Go
and kill," that they will ask
themselves a question, why?
What have people done to me that
I need to kill them?
Nick: Maxim is 33.
>> I left because I met the
-- I am at the point where I
need to trust only myself.
In fact all men of Russia have
got to the point where our
president decides whether you
will live or will you die at the
front.
Nick: He was part of the recent
exodus.
On September 27, he took a one
way flight for 1400 dollars.
That was 5 days after Putin
launched Russia's largest
mobilization since World War 2.
-- World War II.
>> Only military reservists,
primarily those who served in
the armed forces
will be called up.
I have already signed the
executive order on partial
mobilization.
Nick: But in istanbul, a city of
15 million, maxim does not doubt
his decision.
He is a TV graphics designer
with no military experience.
Even he could have been drafted.
>> The last four or five days
when I was in Russia I felt
panic and shock.
I slept for four hours.
Many who stayed there were still
very nervous because you are a
hostage of the situation.
Nick: Maxim lives as a nomad.
He is still searching for an
apartment and spends nights in a
local hostel, missing the
girlfriend he left behind.
>> It is hard to leave family,
your children, but as we say now
in Moscow, a father who is far
away is better than a dead
father.
Nick: That's the fate that
befell yevgeny bizyaev.
He deployed to Ukraine in late
September.
Today, they held his funeral in
eastern Russia, 1100 miles from
where he died on the front
lines.
He about -- he volunteered to
fight.
And ended up making a sacrifice,
that will last forever.
And so other recruits have
rushed to volunteer, a different
kind of forever.
In St. Petersburg, they are
holding fast-track marriages.
Vows of love, before being sworn
into Putin's war.
Some of those fighting that war,
post videos saying they are
being left to suffer biting
cold, with nowhere to sleep.
Others complain of deploying
with potempkin equipment.
A bulletproof vest, without a
bulletproof plate.
>> I hope the Ukrainians are
firing rubber bullets, he says.
Back in istanbul, 42 year old
coast yet is relieved --
42-year-old kostya is relieved
he is not the one fighting or
dying.
He'd rather walk to an uncertain
future.
>> When I'm reading about news
about what's going on there, I
worry about friends.
About everyone who has been
touched by it. But I feel
relief, that I am reading about
it from here where I am safe.
Nick: Back in February, he
joined thousands of Russians who
protested the war.
And, alongside hundreds of
others, was detained.
He left for istanbul the very
day that Putin declared the
mobilization.
>> I don't want to fight against
Ukrainians because for me Russia
is the aggressor.
I don't like to feel like I'm on
the evil side.
On the side who began this war.
Maybe in other cases we will
need to protect our country, but
not like this.
Nick: Tens of thousands of
Russians have mobilized
themselves from their homeland,
to avoid being mobilized, into a