Russian nationals are risking their lives to avoid fighting in the war against Ukraine. They are fleeing the country and seeking asylum in the U.S.
The dangerous journey across the Bearing Sea highlights the lengths to which some Russians are willing to take to dodge being called up to fight in Putin’s military.
Two Russians landed a small boat on St. Lawrence island Thursday, which is about 40 miles from mainland Russia. The men told Coast Guard officials they fled one of the coastal communities on the east coast of Russia.
In a statement, Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Ark., said the daring incident proves that “the Russian people don’t want to fight Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” He also said it exposed a need for greater security in the arctic, where Russian military ships and aircraft have increasingly asserted their presence.
In recent weeks, Russians have suffered heavy losses in Ukraine and multiple retreats.
Ukrainian forces have recaptured 200 square miles of territory from Russian forces in Kherson and Kharkiv, and Putin’s plan to mobilize 300,000 men has sparked a mass exodus.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
