Meet the Russians fleeing Ukraine war to work as strippers & £220 escorts in Thai sin city: ‘Why die when I can party?’

SWEAT glistens on the muscled torso of a young Russian man as he finishes his workout to tell of his fears that the war with Ukraine will last another eight years. But Sam, 23, from Moscow, is not honing his physique ready for a call up. Russian men are heading to Pattaya, Thailand to work as strippers and escorts [file image] Credit: Shutterstock Moving to the Southeast Asian country is a way for Russian men to avoid potentially being conscripted Credit: Getty He is performing as a pole dancer in Thailand’s Sin City of Pattaya where Russian men are heading to work as male strippers and escorts to dodge a feared new round of conscription. As he left the stage at the Big Tool strip club – where the men keep their trousers on despite its name – he was keen to talk about his new life in Pattaya. With a huge grin he could hardly contain his enthusiasm for the coastal resort 90 minutes south of Bangkok where he moved just three weeks ago after first arriving in the capital. But a dark cloud passed over his face when the discussion turned to the war and the devastating effect it has had on his family and friends. He said: “Everything is so hard back home and every one of my age is terrified that they will be sent to fight. “If that happens there is only one likely outcome. “I have buried a lot of friends and relatives. “I come from a big family – I have two brothers and two sisters and they miss me not being home but life is better here in Pattaya. Walking Street’s Big Tool club is just one of the places the young men are working Credit: Dan Charity Sam says people his age are terrified that they will be sent to fight Credit: Getty “I came here to have fun and to escape Russia and I am having a lot of fun while I am here. Everyone wants to escape Russia because this war is going to go on and on. “I don’t think it will end until 2034.” He doesn’t reveal how he comes to such a specific prediction but if he proves to be right it will have lasted 12 years, one of the longest conflicts between neighbouring states in modern history. Sam appears happy to talk to men or women customers as long as they buy him a drink off the extortionate cocktail menu where prices reach 1,390 baht (£31). His colleague Ilya, 25, was more interested in talking to just men – and much more up front to discuss what might follow an expensive cocktail. He said: “It is 10,000 baht (£223) to go to a hotel. I work here six days a week and we stay open until 3.30am. “It can be very busy and it is a lot of fun.” Just like Sam, he is also happy to discuss the war and the crushing effect it has had on Russian society. He said: “Five years ago Russia was a very rich country but now people have nothing. “No money, no work and no hope. “And it will not end soon “If I was back home I would definitely have to join the army so you can see why I enjoy life in Pattaya. Both men and women work at, and are customers of, the Big Tool club [stock image] Credit: Getty Walking Street is a popular tourist destination in Pattaya’s red light district Credit: Dan Charity “I love the freedom here. Someone like me can be myself here, I can’t be that at home.” Despite all the problems back in Russia, Ilya, who comes from Putin’s home city of St Petersburg, revealed the tyrant does still retain some support. He said: “Some people support him, some don’t, it’s probably 50-50.” The Sun found the Russians working in Pattaya’s red light area after we travelled to Thailand to investigate the dark side of the Land of Smiles. Russia is desperate to recruit young men like Sam and Ilya because it is losing 30,000 casualties a month. But the growing fear among the population is that voluntary recruitment will be not be enough to replace this number and Putin may order another mobilisation He last resorted to that tactic in September 2022, when a series of setbacks resulted in a call up of 300,000 reservists. It was deeply unpopular and the Kremlin has avoided another one by targeting those from the poorest regions with the offer of lucrative salaries. They also are lured by the promise of a huge payout to their families if they are killed. Analysts reckon that approach is only just matching the number of casualties which Ukraine is claiming – around 1,000 a day on average. But should Kyiv improve its “kill rate” it will pose serious problems for Putin. Russia has dismissed rumours of a looming call-up but those young men who have fled to Pattaya are not taking any chances. The Big Tool club on Walking Street, the popular tourist destination at the heart of the city’s sprawling red light district, is just one place where potential recruits would rather work than take their chances on the battlefield. Both men and women work there – and both men and women are among the many customers the venue attracts each night. After politely declining Ilya’s offer of a 10,000 baht hotel visit, I turned to talk one of the women dancers, Yana, 26, from Vladivostock. She said: “Most of the guys in here are from Russia or Turkey. The men work six days a week and going to a hotel room sets customers back £223 (stock image) Credit: Alamy There’s a growing fear among Russians that voluntary recruitment won’t be enough Credit: Getty “The Russian men would much rather be here than at home. “If you are at home you could end up in the army. And if you end up in the army you could end up at the front and we all know what might happen then.” Since the war began thousands of Russian have fled to Thailand. In one four-month period shortly after the war began, 233,000 Russians arrived in Phuket, according to the local airport, making them the biggest group of visitors by far. It helped drive property prices in the areas of the island popular with Russians to record prices as it dawned on them that Putin was in it for the long haul. A Russian travel agent there said: “They just do not go home… they are here to get away from conscription.” Back in the Big Tool, Sam, despite being a proud Russian, is in no doubt where his priorities lie. He said: “Why would I want to join the army and fight and die when I can be in Pattaya having fun?”