People fleeing from Russia are now reportedly going to Phuket, Thailand.

Thousands of Russians have been prompted to buy homes on Thailand's Phuket island, aiming to escape Russia's economic crisis and military conscription. A golden-domed roof of a Russian Orthodox church, now visible near Phuket's traditional Thai architecture and the 148-foot-tall Buddha statue, is one sign of this change.

Signboards written in Cyrillic script, Russian restaurants, and newspapers published in Russian have become common in the area. In the first seven months of this year alone, over 400,000 Russians visited Phuket, a number higher than tourists from any other country. The majority of these arrivals are attempting to escape the sanctions imposed due to the war in Ukraine and the Russian government's military call-ups. They have chosen to buy property in Phuket as the safest way to protect their wealth, leading to massive real estate growth on the island. Some real estate agents reportedly sold luxury homes worth millions of pounds in a very short period.

With trust in the Russian government and banking system eroded, many are opting to conduct these transactions through digital currencies like Bitcoin. Thailand's neutral policy regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war has also been a strong contributing factor to this migration.

This large Russian migration has also created numerous social and economic problems on the island. Rapidly rising property prices have made it difficult for locals to buy homes, and local businesses are suffering significant losses due to Russians illegally operating transport and tourism businesses. Furthermore, there are accusations of increased cultural clashes and criminal activities. Examples include the arrest of a Russian hacker sought by American authorities in Phuket and drug trafficking operations via the Telegram app. It is reported that Thai residents are highly displeased with Russians behaving disrespectfully towards local customs in certain areas, often referred to as 'Little Russia'.