Patong, Phuket –
A Ukrainian man damaged public and private property inside the Patong Police Station and caused a public nuisance, reportedly due to being completely broke and having no way to pay for a ticket back to the Ukraine.
The Patong Police told the Phuket Express that the Ukrainian man became nervous and mentally unstable due to having no money to go back home to the Ukraine. The unidentified man had been staying at the police station for several days with police providing him food and water while police worked with the Ukraine Embassy to attempt to find a way to return the man home. On Sunday (January 14th), the Ukrainian man caused a public nuisance at the Patong Police Station after seemingly suffering a mental breakdown, damaging some property inside the station and frightening other people present. He was taken to the Patong Hospital and psychiatric medicine was given to him to calm him down.
The Patong Police told the Phuket Express that the man is now staying at the Patong Hospital, although it is unclear who will pay the bill for his treatment as the man reportedly doesn’t even have one baht to his name. Patong Police continue to work with the Ukraine Embassy to attempt to find a way to get the man home or to contact relatives or friends in the Ukraine for assistance.
The Phuket Express notes that there have been an increasing number of destitute Ukrainian and Russian nationals in Phuket since the war between the two countries broke out, with many people trying to avoid the war for various reasons by staying in Thailand but many people are also running into financial issues. Due to the war, deporting or returning people to Ukraine or Russia is also difficult.
