Desperate Russians fleeing Putin’s call-up orders sail to South Korea

Ports in East Asian nation turned back the majority of the draft dodgers

Vladimir Putin called up reservists to fight the war in Ukraine last month

(AP)

In a desperate bid to avoid being called up to fight in Ukraine, more than 20 Russians sailed in yachts from North Pacific ports to South Korea, but most have been refused entry, according to reports.

Hundreds of thousands of Russians are reported to have fled their homeland since Vladimir Putin ordered a military mobilisation last month in the face of losses on the frontline of his invasion.

Russians trying to avoid the draft have mostly crossed over to neighbouring countries such as Finland, Georgia and Kazakhstan.