‘The Exodus’: Why some Russians are fleeing their homeland amid Ukraine invasion

Some Russians are now fleeing their home country as the war on Ukraine continues and speaking out against the invasion becomes more dangerous.

Before his four-hour flight out of Russia’s Domodedova airport on Saturday, 32-year-old Vladislav Slepyshev wiped his phone clean.

On his social media, you’d find him speaking out against his country’s president, Vladimir Putin. In his camera roll, you’d find photos of him protesting the war against Ukraine on the streets of downtown Moscow.

“For the posts I’m making, you’d just get instantly 15 years in jail,” he said.

Russian authorities continue to arrest protesters and block independent news outlets as the war against Ukraine rages on.

On Friday, Putin signed a bill into law that criminalizes the intentional spreading of what Moscow deems to be “fake” reports. Anyone convicted would face up to 15 years in prison.

“I couldn’t keep silent, so I decided I’m going to go,” Slepyshev said.

He fled Russia on March 5, and headed to Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, where he has relatives.

He’s calls his departure, and the departure of the many other Russians fleeing the country, “the exodus.”