I agree Russians generally won't be getting refugee status anywhere in Europe. They can only travel to Georgia without a visa and I doubt they will be particularly welcomed there either.
Those "self deporting" are those with means, money and ability to get visas, so people with duel nationality for example. Depending on how many leave it could also be an exodus of brain power. You can say good riddance, but this is not a good path as this just leads to Russians becoming more insular. Becoming another North Korea is not the way to go.
Russia has always been paranoid about "the enemy within". They have always been extremely insular so don’t think he cares about the loss of brain power that is in any way pro west/anti-Russian.
I visited Moscow for work back in 2003 when Russia was more "open" , had to get a special invite you couldn't just visit as a "tourist" You got the feeling they really don't want any outside western influence coming in, have never been made to feel so unwelcome at customs before, split our group up, shouted at, took my passport away for hours, made me unpack all my luggage etc. obviously meant as intimidation coming in (If you watch the video below it makes more sence as to why they were like this to western outsiders, I naively did not understand it at the time) in general I found Russians were extremely serious, intelligent, tough, straight forward people, no fake "niceties" never saw anyone smile in the streets. Don't know if it’s the cold, conditioning or the hardship they have been through (similar to a lot of eastern Europeans)... Only time I saw them let loose was when they drank vodka.
Don't seemed to bother to wash their cars there... filthy band new Lambos, Ferraris, porches covered in dirt
FYI North Korea > tightly controlled by Russia.