Phuket

There was no trace of him until 2023 when officers used specialist software to search for any possible images of him online and found a man using the name Peter Smith, in Phuket, Thailand.

“Before, Phuket was not as messy as this,” Thepbumrung said.

PHUKET, Thailand — For many years, Chinese tourism fueled the economy of this island paradise, known for its tropical weather, stunning sunsets and foreign-friendly accommodations.

But with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, Thailand’s Phuket Island is transforming into a different kind of getaway: a refuge for Russians fleeing military conscription, political oppression and the economic impact of Western sanctions.

Businesses in Phuket — many still recovering from the pandemic — have responded quickly and enthusiastically.