Farmers are among those being drafted to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday (September 27) - further cementing the nation's increasing stress over next year's crop.
Russia is the largest wheat exporter globally - with Autumn being the most prosperous season for wheat farmers, who use these months to sow wheat for the following year's crop, Reuters reports.
During the televised meeting, the 69-year-old leader - who is currently serving his third term as Russia's president - stated: "I would also like to address regional heads and the heads of agricultural enterprises.
"As part of the partial mobilization, agricultural workers are also being drafted. Their families must be supported. I ask you to pay special attention to this issue."
The announcement comes almost one week after Putin first revealed he would be partially mobilizing the country, stating that he would be sending 300,000 Russian reservists to Ukraine to fight his "special military operation".
War broke out between the two nations in February this year, after tense relations since 2014 came to a head - specifically due to the political status of Crimea and the Donbas.
After Putin's Wednesday address, Russia's Minister of Defense assured citizens that the 300,000-strong call-up would only include those who had military experience, and that students and conscripts would not be called, as previously reported.
Though, a report from The Moscow Times stated that human rights groups believe: "Any citizen from the military reserve can potentially be drafted."
A top Google trend in Russia following Putin's televised announcement was "как сломать руку в домашни? условия?" or "how to break an arm at home," a Newsweek report detailed - revealing that everyday Russians would resort to extremely dramatic means if it meant they could avoid being sent to fight.
Not only this, but one-way flights out of the country were completely sold out within hours - and prices even tripled within that time. A one-way flight from Moscow to Turkey that once cost 22,000 roubles ($370 USD) soon cost upwards of 70,000 roubles ($1,180 USD), per a previous report.
Young Russians have even taken to video sharing platform, TikTok, to let their feelings on partial mobilization be known. Russian influencer, Gleb, posted a short clip in which he stated: "It's not my choice to be born in this country. Yesterday, we had sad news about partial mobilization [...] I don't want to get drafted."
Now that farmers are among those being conscripted, the nation is expected to have further issues with an already struggling wheat crop exportation.
