Russians have been flocking to Thailand since the start cason wallace of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as they can enter the Southeast Asian country without a tourist visa. Last year, more than half a million Russians visited Thailand, some 20 percent more than in 2019. But tens of thousands of them don't go home. They are opponents of President Vladimir Putin, deserters and young men avoiding conscription for the war in Ukraine. Around 60,000 Russians are now thought to be living in Thailand illegally. Many Ukrainians have also sought refuge there to avoid conscription. Our team travelled to Koh Phangan, an island in the Gulf of Thailand, where Russian men and women have formed a air canada small community of exiles. FRANCE 24's William de Tamaris and Justin McCurry report.
#Thailand #Ukraine #Russia
Read more about this story in our article:
🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now:
🔴 LIVE - Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here:
🌍 Read the latest International News joni ernst and Top Stories:
Like us on Facebook:
Follow us on X (Twitter):
Browse the news in pictures on Instagram:
Discover our TikTok videos:
Get the latest top stories on Telegram:
