Vladimir Putin's war machine is facing an unexpected crisis as Thailand's party island Phuket becomes a go-to destination for Russians desperate to dodge conscription and shield their cash from sanctions, according to an investigative Daily Mail report.
The tropical resort has been transformed into a sprawling Russian enclave, with thousands of arrivals reshaping whole neighbourhoods, inflating house prices, and sparking a growing backlash from locals.
Russians fleeing war and mobilisation
One young man from St Petersburg said he had landed in Phuket just a week earlier “to avoid being sent to fight in a war that has already reportedly seen a staggering 300,000 Russians killed or wounded this year alone”.
The man, who was not named, said: “I don’t understand the point of this Ukrainian war. Not a single one of my friends supports it or wants to fight. I will stay here until the end of the war.”
Others are not just fleeing; they're buying up the island. One Russian man in his 30s, described as coming from a wealthy family, arrived last month and has already bought up three properties.
Property prices surge, locals pushed aside
He told the Daily Mail: “We all worry about the war. I am a Russian citizen and I love Russia - but no, I don't love my leader. Now I have no business, no job. I fear there will be a new mobilisation. The army is not for me. I cannot shoot and kill people.”
Local agents reportedly revealed villa prices have surged 50% to 100% since the war in Ukraine began, pushing locals and ordinary tourists aside.
Entire areas such as Kata and Karon are being dubbed “Little Moscow”, with Cyrillic signs, Russian menus and even Russian Orthodox churches.
Thai authorities crack down
As a result, Thai authorities have been targeting Russians accused of running illegal businesses, working without permits and committing visa fraud, with arrests and deportations linked to alleged Telegram drug rings, pornography production, and property law breaches.
One local tour operator complained Russians were “skirting ownership laws” and taking trade. They said: “They rent the boats, they rent the minibuses. They have their own websites, their own agencies. So I have less money.”
Another said: “Many are quite rude. They do not respect Thai customs. They shout… treating us like we are not human.”
Some Russians in Phuket say Ukraine's drone strikes have rattled them and fuelled anti-Putin feeling, while locals reportedly note Russians still secure long-stay visas easily and tend to cluster together for safety as valued big spenders.
