Cars line up to cross Russia's border into Georgia, latter declares state of 'high alert'

Hundreds of cars queued on Thursday as they made their way to the Verkhny Lars border crossing from southern Russia into Georgia. To prevent vehicles from skipping the queue by driving through lay-bys, rows of stones were placed on the edge of the road. Several local vendors saw the traffic as an opportunity, selling food out of vans and bottles of fuel.

Georgian border officials were also handing out humanitarian aid - such as water, food and blankets - to people going the other way to distribute among those waiting to leave Russia. Some residents from nearby Vladikavkaz drove out to hand out food to those waiting in the queues.

Long lines of Russians trying to escape being called up to fight in Ukraine continued to clog highways out of the country on Wednesday, and Moscow reportedly set up draft offices at borders to intercept some of them.

North Ossetia, a Russian region that borders Georgia, declared a state of “high alert” and said that food, water, warming stations and other aid should be brought in for those who have spent days in queues. Volunteers on the Georgian side of the border also have brought water, blankets and other assistance.

North Ossetia restricted many passenger cars from entering its territory, and set up a draft office at the Verkhy Lars border crossing, Russian news agencies said. Some media outlets released photos at the crossing showing a black van with “military enlistment office” written on it. Another such draft checkpoint was set up in Russia along the Finnish border, according to the independent Russian news outlet Meduza.