--- title: "Panic at the border: 40,000 Russians rush to Georgia through Verkhny Lars in a few days" description: "About 40,000 Russians have left through Verkhny Lars in a few days. Experts link the record passenger flow and border traffic jams to rumors of a possible autumn mobilization in the Russian Federation." date: 2026-08-19T15:28:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/panic-at-the-border-40000-rush-to-georgia-through-verkhny-lars tags: [russia, georgia, migration, mobilization, border-crisis] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Panic at the border: 40,000 Russians rush to Georgia through Verkhny Lars in a few days ![Queue of cars at the border in Verkhny Lars, Russians heading to Georgia](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/19/panika-na-granitse-40-tysyach-rossiyan-vyehali-v-gruziyu/panika-na-granitse-40-tysyach-rossiyan-vyehali-v-gruziyu-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - About 40,000 Russians left through Verkhny Lars in a few days. - The peak passenger flow occurred between August 15 and 18, 2026. - The main reason for the outflow is cited as rumors of possible mobilization in autumn 2026. - Multi-kilometer traffic jams and a movement speed of 50 meters per hour were recorded at the border. In August 2026, an unprecedented passenger flow was recorded at the Russia-Georgia border. Over a few days, approximately 40,000 Russian citizens crossed the only land border crossing — Verkhny Lars. According to the Federal Customs Service, the peak occurred between August 15 and 18: more than 19,000 to 20,000 people passed through the checkpoint daily. These figures are several times higher than those of similar periods in previous years and recall the situation in the autumn of 2022, when mass outflow was triggered by the start of partial mobilization. ### Transport collapse and "50 meters per hour" The situation at the border has escalated into a massive transport collapse. Witnesses report that multi-kilometer traffic jams have formed on the Russian side. Traffic is practically paralyzed: according to drivers, vehicles are moving at a speed of about 50 meters per hour. Verkhny Lars, being the only land corridor between the two countries, cannot cope with the load, leading to multi-hour delays for all categories of migrants — both pedestrians and car owners. ### Rumors of mobilization as the main driver of migration Experts cite rumors of a possible new mobilization in Russia, which may be announced in the autumn of 2026, as the main reason for the sharp surge in migration. Against the backdrop of these assumptions, tens of thousands of citizens are trying to leave the country, choosing Georgia as the most accessible destination. The situation is exacerbated by reports from Ukrainian military sources. Vadym Skibitsky, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, previously noted signs of increased mobilization readiness of the Russian Federation, stating that the country's authorities are looking for new ways to replenish the ranks of the army. ### Echo of 2022: repeating the scenario Current events evoke alarming parallels with the events of September 2022. Then, after the announcement of partial mobilization, tens of thousands of Russians left the country, forming multi-day jams at the borders. A similar picture is now observed: a sharp increase in demand for renting and buying housing in neighboring countries, particularly in Armenia and Georgia. Real estate agents note that the housing market is reacting to the migration influx just as it did four years ago, confirming the mass nature of population movement. ### Contradictory data Although the figures of the Russian Federal Customs Service indicate a record passenger flow, there are discrepancies in the interpretation of the causes and scale of the phenomenon. Official Russian sources may try to minimize the significance of mobilization rumors, calling the outflow a seasonal tourist flow. At the same time, independent observers and sources from neighboring countries (Georgia, Armenia) directly link the sharp increase in the number of migrants to the expectation of conscription. Moreover, data on the exact number of those who left may vary depending on whether only pedestrians are counted or the entire traffic flow, including freight transport, which is also experiencing delays. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Thousands of Russians flee to Georgia amid mobilization rumors](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/tisyachi-rosiyan-tikayut-gruziyi-tli-chutok-1787152660.html) - Источник подтверждает данные о 40 тысячах выехавших, датах пиков (15-18 августа) и причинах (слухи о мобилизации). - ["It felt like we had come to allies." Russians on life in Batumi](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7/20230519-%D0%B3%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B8-%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B6) - Подтверждено по источнику rfi.fr ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How many Russians have left for Georgia in recent days? **A:** About 40,000 people have left through the pedestrian checkpoint over a few days. ### Q: What is the reason for the mass outflow of population? **A:** The main reason cited is rumors of possible mobilization in Russia in autumn 2026. ### Q: What is the situation at the Verkhny Lars border? **A:** Multi-kilometer traffic jams have been recorded, with a movement speed of about 50 meters per hour.