Fleeing the Draft: A Journey to Safety

This week, The Daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and checking in on what has happened in the time since they first ran.

Kirill, 24, worked at a nonprofit for homeless people in the Moscow region. He does not support the policies of President Vladimir V. Putin and is vehemently against the invasion of Ukraine.

After suffering setbacks in the war, Mr. Putin announced a military draft in September. Kirill was among those called up. In September, Sabrina Tavernise spoke to Kirill who was hiding to avoid being served his papers. Since then, Kirill decided to flee Russia to avoid the draft. Today, Sabrina Tavernise checks in with Kirill about what’s happened since he left his country.

Background reading

• Russia’s defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, said in October that the target of drafting 300,000 reservists was finished and no more drafts were planned.
• Across Moscow in October, there were noticeably fewer men at restaurants, stores and social gatherings. Many were called up to fight in Ukraine. Others fled to avoid being drafted.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

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