Rich Russians isolated from the West are flocking to Thailand’s Phuket

The diplomatic office is within the Royal Phuket Marina, a seaside community that includes moorings for yachts and apartments and stand-alone villas priced from about US$300,000 to multiple millions.

While countries in Europe and the Middle East have long been the main havens for Russians, Thailand’s beaches, nightlife and openness in places like Phuket, Krabi and Pattaya provided an affordable alternative in Asia even before the war in Ukraine started in February 2022.

Since Putin began his invasion, the EU has made it harder for Russians to travel to the bloc, with many direct flights to European cities abandoned. That’s pushed people to countries with easy-visa entry such as the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Thailand.

Indeed, Thailand has introduced several new visa programs over the past year that allow longer stays for those who bring in money or special skills –…