RELOCANTS

“As long as I live in Russia I’m trying to explain to everyone how things are. But people think that everything is fine. They tell me: start with yourself. I don’t steal money, I pay taxes, I work, I throw garbage only in the trash. I do everything like a law-abiding citizen. What else should I start doing? I started going to rallies, expressing my position. And they tell me: ‘start with yourself…’. There is no hope that something can be changed in our country”.

After the announcement of the partial mobilization in Russia, according to various estimates, up to 700,000 men who did not want to die for the ambitions of the current government left the country. Almost all of them found themselves in a situation of “urgent emigration”, when the decision to leave their home was a matter of days. Kazakhstan has become one of the countries where the main flow of male migrants poured into. Local goverment and citizens did their best to help Russians fleeing from the aggression of Putin`s regime. According to the Kazakh authorities, in the first weeks of the mobilization, Kazakhstan received about 200,000 men from Russia. Many of them have choosen it as a transit point and already left, some of them are still there, waiting for their families to come along, and some of them are planning to build their lives anew in Kazakhstan. However, all of these men have one thing in common — only few of them expect to return to Russia in the near future.

Read in full on Repulic.ru

Victor from St. Petersburg in the kitchen in the apartment of his colleague's relatives in Uralsk. Victor worked in a small startup, where he developed acoustic solutions for cars and wrote music at the same time. After September 21, together with a colleague, Victor bought a ticket to Uralsk and entered the territory of Kazakhstan three days later. Since the fellow traveler was originally from Uralsk and his family lives there, Viktor was able to provide housing and allocated his own room. He managed to get some of his sound design equipment out of Russia, so Victor writes music in his spare time. Victor plans to move to Seoul, where he will continue his work and bring his girlfriend at the first opportunity.
Victor from St. Petersburg in the kitchen in the apartment of his colleague's relatives in Uralsk. Victor worked in a small startup, where he developed acoustic solutions for cars and wrote music at the same time. After September 21, together with a colleague, Victor bought a ticket to Uralsk and entered the territory of Kazakhstan three days later. Since the fellow traveler was originally from Uralsk and his family lives there, Viktor was able to provide housing and allocated his own room. He managed to get some of his sound design equipment out of Russia, so Victor writes music in his spare time. Victor plans to move to Seoul, where he will continue his work and bring his girlfriend at the first opportunity.
View from the window of Dmitry's rented apartment, Astana.
View from the window of Dmitry's rented apartment, Astana.
Dmitry from Chelyabinsk is in the kitchen of his apartment in Astana, which they rented together with friends. After the start of partial mobilization, Dmitry decided to leave Russia, as he did not want to be at war and take up arms. Dmitry came to Kazakhstan, to the city of Astana with friends, where they rented an apartment. Dmitry has a wife in Russia.
Dmitry from Chelyabinsk is in the kitchen of his apartment in Astana, which they rented together with friends. After the start of partial mobilization, Dmitry decided to leave Russia, as he did not want to be at war and take up arms. Dmitry came to Kazakhstan, to the city of Astana with friends, where they rented an apartment. Dmitry has a wife in Russia.
Anton from Saratov is in his room in Uralsk, where they live with friends. Anton arrived in Uralsk from Saratov on business three days before the start of the partial mobilization and, as he jokes, as he knew and arrived in advance. Later it became clear that it would not be possible to return home. A few days later, Anton met his friends from Saratov and quietly transported things from Russia via taxi. Now the whole company of 5 people lives in a small apartment with bunk beds in Uralsk. In Russia, Anton was engaged in massage and music. Now he performs in a local bar in Uralsk, and later plans to open his own massage room and continue to stay in Kazakhstan to develop his business.
Anton from Saratov is in his room in Uralsk, where they live with friends. Anton arrived in Uralsk from Saratov on business three days before the start of the partial mobilization and, as he jokes, as he knew and arrived in advance. Later it became clear that it would not be possible to return home. A few days later, Anton met his friends from Saratov and quietly transported things from Russia via taxi. Now the whole company of 5 people lives in a small apartment with bunk beds in Uralsk. In Russia, Anton was engaged in massage and music. Now he performs in a local bar in Uralsk, and later plans to open his own massage room and continue to stay in Kazakhstan to develop his business.
Oleg from Moscow in his rented apartment in Astana. Before the start of partial mobilization, Oleg worked in an IT company, took an active civic position, went to rallies and tried to monitor the political situation. Oleg spent the first week after the announcement of partial mobilization at work in correspondence with departing friends, and after that he himself decided to leave Russia. While Oleg was getting to Kazakhstan, he managed to rent a daily apartment, where he now lives with his friend. Oleg perceives the emergency departure from Russia as a temporary evacuation and hopes to return home when it is safe.
Oleg from Moscow in his rented apartment in Astana. Before the start of partial mobilization, Oleg worked in an IT company, took an active civic position, went to rallies and tried to monitor the political situation. Oleg spent the first week after the announcement of partial mobilization at work in correspondence with departing friends, and after that he himself decided to leave Russia. While Oleg was getting to Kazakhstan, he managed to rent a daily apartment, where he now lives with his friend. Oleg perceives the emergency departure from Russia as a temporary evacuation and hopes to return home when it is safe.
Children's playground in Astana near the territory of the hostel, where do the relocants from  Russia live.
Children's playground in Astana near the territory of the hostel, where do the relocants from  Russia live.
Ivan from Moscow on Nurzhol Boulevard in Astana. Ivan worked in Russia with low-voltage security equipment, lived with his wife. Over the past few years, Ivan and his wife have been planning to move to another country, collecting information, but still could not decide. However, the beginning of partial mobilization did not leave time to choose. Ivan and the husbands of his wife's colleagues took a plane ticket the very next day after the start of partial mobilization and ended up in Astana, where they rented housing. Now Ivan is settling into a new place, looking for a permanent job and waiting for his wife along with their dog. Ivan has no plans to return to Russia again.
Ivan from Moscow on Nurzhol Boulevard in Astana. Ivan worked in Russia with low-voltage security equipment, lived with his wife. Over the past few years, Ivan and his wife have been planning to move to another country, collecting information, but still could not decide. However, the beginning of partial mobilization did not leave time to choose. Ivan and the husbands of his wife's colleagues took a plane ticket the very next day after the start of partial mobilization and ended up in Astana, where they rented housing. Now Ivan is settling into a new place, looking for a permanent job and waiting for his wife along with their dog. Ivan has no plans to return to Russia again.
Russia-Kazakhstan border. Checkpoint Ozinki.
Russia-Kazakhstan border. Checkpoint Ozinki.
Yuri from Moscow at the hostel in Astana. Prior to the start of the partial mobilization, Yuri lived in Moscow with his wife. He had his own business, a good income and a well-established life. Since the beginning of the war, the family began to think about moving from Russia, but no one expected that they would have to emigrate quickly. Yuri took tickets from Moscow to Saratov and crossed the border with Kazakhstan through the city of Uralsk. Already in Uralsk, Yuri met with his friend, with whom they got to Astana together and settled in a hostel. Yuri's wife remains in Russia for the time being. There she handles the paperwork and sells all the property before moving in with her husband. The minimum condition for returning to Russia for Yuri is the end of the war.
Yuri from Moscow at the hostel in Astana. Prior to the start of the partial mobilization, Yuri lived in Moscow with his wife. He had his own business, a good income and a well-established life. Since the beginning of the war, the family began to think about moving from Russia, but no one expected that they would have to emigrate quickly. Yuri took tickets from Moscow to Saratov and crossed the border with Kazakhstan through the city of Uralsk. Already in Uralsk, Yuri met with his friend, with whom they got to Astana together and settled in a hostel. Yuri's wife remains in Russia for the time being. There she handles the paperwork and sells all the property before moving in with her husband. The minimum condition for returning to Russia for Yuri is the end of the war.
Victor's from St. Petersburg workplace is in his room in Uralsk.
Victor's from St. Petersburg workplace is in his room in Uralsk.
Ivan from Saratov in his room in a rented apartment in Uralsk. Ivan left Russia two days after the start of the partial mobilization. At first, Ivan and his friends slept in the car and took a shower at a local coffee shop, where one of the volunteers who helped the Russians arrived worked. Later, Ivan and his friends managed to rent a small apartment. Now Ivan is settling in a new place and looking for a job in Uralsk.
Ivan from Saratov in his room in a rented apartment in Uralsk. Ivan left Russia two days after the start of the partial mobilization. At first, Ivan and his friends slept in the car and took a shower at a local coffee shop, where one of the volunteers who helped the Russians arrived worked. Later, Ivan and his friends managed to rent a small apartment. Now Ivan is settling in a new place and looking for a job in Uralsk.
View of Astana from Oleg's rented apartment.
View of Astana from Oleg's rented apartment.
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