Vladimir Putin hit by backlash with more than a dozen fire attacks on mobilization centers

Russians are waking up to the lies they have been told, Western officials say, with Vladimir Putin's desperate mobilization showing the country has been "humiliated " in Ukraine Vladimir Putin is facing a massive backlash across Russia with a series of attacks on mobilization centers (

Image: SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Warmonger Vladimir Putin is facing a massive backlash in Russia, with firebombings of recruitment centers as hundreds of thousands flee to avoid being sent to Ukraine.

Western officials believe the Russians are finally coming to terms with the lies they have been told since the president launched his illegal invasion in February.

Sources said today that there have been 17 known fires at mobilization centers - including one case in Ryazan where a protester set himself on fire - in just four days last week.< /p>

There has been an increase in 'direct action' since Putin announced that 300,000 more troops would be drafted in to support his abortive war effort, with brave protesters facing arrest across the country for manifest.

Since Putin's escalation, an estimated 250,000 people have crossed Russian borders to avoid being forced to fight in Ukraine, bringing the total number of people who have fled Russia since February to around 400 000.

The hawkish president said last week that 300,000 reservists are at risk of being called up (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

The latest mobilization left the public "shocked and appalled" after months of learning that the Ukrainian resistance was failing, sources said.

Companies have reported receiving lists of workers who will be forced to fight, creating wide gaps in the Russian economy.

Thousands of people will go into hiding to make themselves "untraceable" to the authorities.

Western officials say they are optimistic about...