Some Ukrainians fled before Russian referendums

Moscow is expected to announce the outcome Tuesday of referendums over whether four occupied regions in Ukraine will join Russia. Many Ukrainians who openly supported their government fled the affected regions. Others hid in their homes to avoid officers collecting votes door-to-door. The United States and most other countries have denounced the elections as illegitimate and an excuse for Russia to escalate fighting there.

What’s happening in Russia? Cars lined up at the border and travelers crowded Moscow airports as thousands of men tried to escape conscription. Almost any man under 65 is considered on military reserve in Russia. President Vladimir Putin called for 300,000 more soldiers to join the war last week. Russia has said that military experience would be the main criteria for conscription, but some locals say their friends with no experience have been called up.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard discuss the war in Ukraine with John Hardie of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies on The World and Everything in It podcast.