Rather than go to war for President Vladimir Putin, two Russians risked their lives in a small sailboat in the Bering Sea, feared by sailors. At the beginning of the week, the men arrived in Alaska after almost 500 kilometers and applied for asylum in the US state. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said the arrival of the Russians “was a surprise to us”.
The brave sailors embarked on their daring escape from the northeast Russian town of Egvekinot. A spokesman for the United States Department of Homeland Security said the men arrived “in a small boat” in the small village of Gambell on Tuesday. They were taken into custody by US officials. They said they fled the partial mobilization for Putin’s war in Ukraine.
Governor goes out on a case by case basis
The town of Gambell has less than 500 inhabitants. According to the governor, however, they do not have to be afraid of a refugee flow. “We don’t expect a continuous flow of individuals or a fleet of individuals. We have no indication that this will happen, so this may be an isolated case,” Dunleavy explains.
‘Russians don’t want to wage an aggressive war against Ukraine’
Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan is apparently less convinced. He urged federal agencies to “have a plan… in case more Russians flee to communities in Alaska’s Bering Strait.” According to Sullivan, the incident makes two things clear: “Firstly, the Russian people do not want to wage Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Secondly, given Alaska’s proximity to Russia, our state plays a crucial role in ensuring the national security of America,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
US Senator Lisa Murkowski is also concerned: “The incident underscores the need for a stronger security posture in America’s Arctic,” she said. Both politicians pushed for the expansion of strategic defense capabilities and infrastructure in the state to combat the threats Russia poses to the region.
Up to 700,000 Russian men fled their homeland
In fact, the spectacular flight and arrival of the Russians is a first for Alaska. Most Russians who try to avoid conscription flee to neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan, Georgia and Finland or other European countries. Forbes Russia, citing a Kremlin source, reported that as many as 700,000 men have fled the country since Putin announced a partial troop mobilization on Sept. 21.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
