Putin conscript has sledgehammer-wielding pal break arm to dodge Ukraine draft

Horrifying footage has emerged of what is reportedly a Russian reservist's arm being broken by a sledgehammer-wielding pal in an attempt to swerve Vladimir Putin's draft.

Russian officials have been forced to warn against such self-mutilation following Putin's mobilisation of some 300,000 reservists to the frontline in Ukraine.

In the video, the draftee appears holding his left arm out over a bench while covering his face with his other arm.

READ MORE: Russia says it has set traps to 'capture' men as thousands flee Putin's mobilisation

The friend then brings the long-handled sledgehammer up before smashing a heavy blow to the arm of the would-be soldier.

He then shoots to his feet, swearing and clearly in agony, as the friend who dealt the blow slinks off.

From a distance, the friend can be heard saying: “Kolyan, is everything all right? F***, yeah?”

A woman’s voice says: “Why did he run away?” The draftee then says: “He promised to strike me.”

Two women then appear in the frame, inspecting the arm that has been struck.

One asks: “Was it hard? [But] did he fail to break your arm?”

The friend then asks: “What do you mean? I didn’t…?”

The video concludes with it unclear whether the reservist's arm was broken by the strike.

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It is also not clear whether the injury was enough to save him from being sent to Ukraine.

In a similar bid to dodge the draft, other Russian men have resorted to fleeing their homeland to countries such as Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Satellite images have shown a 10-mile long queue of vehicles stretching along the Russia-Georgian border at the Verkhny Lars checkpoint.

Flights out of the country sold out following Putin's announcement.

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