Russia: Unintended Consequences to Ukraine 'Special Operation'

"President [Vladimir] Putin's war in Ukraine is a war on freedom, on democracy and on the rights of Ukrainians, and all people, to determine their own future."

"As Canadians, these are values we hold dear. Athletes who decide to play and associate with Russia and Belarus should explain their decisions to the public." 

"Our government has been very clear. Canadians should avoid all travel to Russia and Belarus. If they are in Russia or in Belarus, they should leave now."

"Our ability to provide consular services may become extremely limited."

Adrien Blanchard, press secretary, Canadian Foreign Affairs

Russian policemen prepare to detain participants of an unauthorized protest against the partial mobilization due to the conflict in Ukraine, in central St. Petersburg, Russia, 21 September 2022. Russian President President Putin has signed a decree on partial mobilization in the Russian Federation, with mobilization activities starting on 21 September. Russian citizens who are in the reserve will be called up for military service. [EPA-EFE/ANATOLY MALTSEV]

 

Evidently, the traditional 'break a leg' in show business resonates with professional Canadian hockey players. Despite the turmoil in Russia, with Russian citizens leaving by droves to enter other Eastern European states in haste to avoid the partial call-up of Russian military reservists, and the urgency with which the Canadian government has instructed its citizens to leave Russia lest they become pawns in Russia's conflict with Ukraine, it seems none of the 48 Canadian hockey players currently with the Kontinental Hockey League club roster has complied.

 

They obviously don't feel in any danger of a personal nature while playing for Russian/Belarus teams and intend to remain where they are; after all, their reasoning might be that sports and politics are not compatible. There are forty-four Canadians playing with clubs in Russia and Belarus, and another four with Kazakhstan hockey clubs.  

Advisories urging Canadians to return home from Russia were posted along with advisories not to travel to or within Belarus or Russia in March and February. Nine of the Canadian players in the KHL received personal messages from the Canadian Press enquiring  whether they had received any assurances from the leagues and the teams ensuring their personal safety. None have responded. While Canadians feel comfortable remaining in Russia, several hundred thousand Russian citizens have felt compelled to flee.

Their very departure concerns neighbouring countries for fear of a wider state of instability in the region. Statistics out of Georgia, Kazakhstan and the European Union indicate the scale of the Russian departures with a total considered a gross underestimate -- while Russian citizens flood to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, none of which have publicly disclosed arrival figures. 

Millions of Russians were shocked when their president issued mobilization orders a week ago in a country that had up to then been shielded from the upheaval taking place in Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion. Suddenly, in essence, the 'special military operation' has been transformed to a conflict zone. Can Russians really have been taken by surprise? Vladimir Putin was well aware that a general call-up would be wholly unpopular in his country.

The circumstances of the Ukrainian military successful counteroffensive has caught the Kremlin off guard. The call-up, reluctant as it was, and clumsily limited for the present, risked arousing the anger of the Russian populace, realizing Putin's fears by large protests breaking out all over Russian towns and cities. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu's assurance that the call-up would affect a mere 300,00 of the 25 million reservists doesn't appear to be quelled the reaction.

Russian police detain a protester during a rally against the mobilization of reservists ordered by President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on September 24.