The Latest Breaking News from Kremlin

IT workers, bankers and journalists are among the professionals to be excluded from the draft, says defence ministry.

(This Sep. 23 story has been updated to correct the name and age of the student quoted in the final three paragraphs to Nastya, 21, not Aryuna, 19.)

One-way economy flights sell out after Kremlin announces military mobilisation

The Kremlin leader is notorious for holding grudges, and holds immense power and influence over the majority of companies in the Eastern European state

Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a partial mobilisation follows Russia’s strategic and operational failures in Ukraine. It also confirms the Kremlin’s inability to think outside the box of its old doctrine. Moscow’s response remains the same as before – to overwhelm the enemy by sending in a bigger army.

Former Russian generals tell Al Jazeera that while the prospect of nuclear war remains slim, the situation could change.

Finland and Georgia reported heavy traffic on their borders

Russia said on Friday it was exempting some bankers, IT workers and journalists from being drafted into the army to serve in Ukraine under President Vladimir Putin's mobilisation.

Ukrainians are fleeing from Russian-held areas to avoid the sham referendums, which could pave the way for annexation. "It was all staged," said one Ukrainian. "How can you vote when they have guns?"