​Approximately 419,000 people left Russia in the first half of this year, which is twice as many as a year earlier, according to the Russian news agency RBC, Reuters and Agerpres report.

These data show for the first time in recent history that emigration in Russia was greater than immigration. The Russian statistical agency Rosstat does not provide details about the nationality of the people who left.

Russia traditionally attracts immigrants from the former Soviet republics.

However, this year the movement was in the opposite direction: 369,000 people left Russia for the countries of the former USSR, and only 295,000 people entered Russia from the respective states.

Approximately 80,000 people chose Ukraine as their destination.

Russia abandoned by dissidents and specialists

Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine at the end of February, leading not only to a mass exodus from Ukraine, but also to a wave of people leaving Russia.

Russian political opponents emigrated, and many young specialists also left the country in search of better opportunities in the context of the withdrawal of many companies from the Russian market.

Large communities of Russians have formed in Armenia and Georgia, mainly thanks to the relatively easy entry conditions for Russians.

Russia’s population shrank by a total of 480,000 people in the first six months of the year, partly due to natural decline.