Over one million Russian citizens left for Georgia, Armenia, and Serbia
In the third quarter of 2026, the number of trips by Russian citizens to Georgia, Armenia, and Serbia reached its highest level in 17 years. According to statistics from the FSB border service, the total number of trips to these countries significantly exceeded figures from previous years. This was reported by Verstka citing Federal Security Service, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
According to Russian border guards, from July to September of this year, 660,300 people traveled to Georgia. This figure is 43,300 higher than the data for the same period last year.
Travel to Georgia
Compared to the mobilization period in the third quarter of 2022, the number of departures to Georgia increased by 43 percent. At the same time, four years ago, citizens crossed the border by car much more frequently than in the reporting period.
Statistics for Serbia and Armenia
In the direction of Serbia, 64,800 departures from russia were recorded, which is approximately 14,000 more than a year earlier. The previous maximum for this country was observed in the third quarter of 2024.
Meanwhile, 402,300 Russians traveled to Armenia during the same period, exceeding the third quarter 2025 figure by 57,000. Official statistics account for all trips regardless of their purpose and do not allow for determining the exact number of emigrants.
Reasons for potential migration
Amid difficulties with recruiting contract soldiers, russian authorities are discussing a new wave of mobilization or the rotation of reservists. Human rights defenders and representatives of organizations helping those leaving note an increase in citizens’ interest in relocating due to such rumors.
Illustrative photo: Jelger Groeneveld / CC BY 2.0
