The Sun has reported that young Russian men working in Pattaya's nightlife district say they left home partly because they fear being called up to fight in Ukraine.

The newspaper spoke to Sam, 23, from Moscow, and Ilya, 25, from St Petersburg, at a club on Walking Street. Both said they preferred work in Pattaya to the prospect of military service in Russia.

Sam, who had arrived in Pattaya three weeks earlier after first going to Bangkok, performs as a pole dancer at the venue. He said people his age were frightened they could be sent to fight and said he had buried friends and relatives during the war.

"Everything is so hard back home and every one of my age is terrified that they will be sent to fight," Sam told The Sun. He said he believed the conflict would not end until 2034, without explaining why he expected it to last that long.

Work and life on Walking Street

The Big Tool club is on Walking Street, at the centre of Pattaya's extensive red-light district. The venue employs men and women, and attracts male and female customers, according to the newspaper.

Sam said customers could buy drinks from a menu with prices reaching 1,390 baht. Ilya said he worked six days a week, with the club open until 3.30am, and offered hotel visits for 10,000 baht.

Commercial sex remains illegal in Thailand, even though nightlife and entertainment venues are highly visible in Pattaya and other tourist areas. Visitors and foreign residents should be aware that the law can be enforced, and that arrangements made through bars can carry legal, financial and personal-safety risks.

Ilya told the newspaper that Russia had changed sharply in recent years, claiming there was now "no money, no work and no hope". He said he would "definitely have to join the army" if he returned home, and added that he valued the freedom to be himself in Pattaya.

Yana, 26, a dancer from Vladivostok, told The Sun that many men at the club were from Russia or Turkey. She said Russian men would rather be in Thailand than risk ending up in the army and then at the front.

Thailand's growing Russian community

Russia last ordered a major mobilisation in September 2022, calling up 300,000 reservists after battlefield setbacks. The Sun said Moscow has since relied on recruitment incentives, particularly in poorer regions, while dismissing rumours of another imminent call-up.

The report cited Ukraine's claim that Russia is suffering around 1,000 casualties a day, while stating that Russia is desperate to replace losses. It also said that, in the four months shortly after the war began, 233,000 Russians arrived in Phuket, according to the local airport.

Sam summed up his decision simply: "Why would I want to join the army and fight and die when I can be in Pattaya having fun?"

The original source article published by The Sun is behind a paywall so I copied this over from another forum.

These are steep prices.

I wished the reporter enquired who the patrons of Tool Box are, specifically the patrons who choose to sit in the men's poledance area or who book the men out.

16 minutes ago, macaroni21 said:

I wished the reporter enquired who the patrons of Tool Box are, specifically the patrons who choose to sit in the men's poledance area or who book the men out.

Perhaps its time for someone from this forum to off one of them. But, it will require some deep pockets - so count me out.

I may need to add a visit to Pattaya to my upcoming trip. When I was in Bkk a few months ago there was an absolute stunning shirtless guy working as a greeter in front of one of the bars, we got to talking and he was Russian. If someone of his calibre is available to bring back to my hotel, I wouldn't think twice about dropping 10,000 for the privilege ;) Any Pattaya locals got any input about the Russians working the bars there?

Are the Ruskie pole dacers well hung. I knew a Russian guy from my local pub where I originally came from and his cock was the size of a babys.

On 9/12/2026 at 4:49 AM, macaroni21 said:

These are steep prices.

I wished the reporter enquired who the patrons of Tool Box are, specifically the patrons who choose to sit in the men's poledance area or who book the men out.

This is The Sun we're talking about. "The reporter", or his AI, probably never left his London office.

On 9/12/2026 at 6:09 AM, bkkmfj2648 said:

But, it will require some deep pockets

If you guys do a fundraising for me I will be more than happy to try it out for you all when I'm in pattaya first week November... Lol

20 hours ago, thaiophilus said:

This is The Sun we're talking about. "The reporter", or his AI, probably never left his London office.

Are you implying the Murdoch press is unscrupulous?

1 hour ago, emiel1981 said:

If you guys do a fundraising for me I will be more than happy to try it out for you all when I'm in pattaya first week November... Lol

Shall we start a Gayguides forum GoFundMe for you?

On 9/12/2026 at 2:12 AM, pylonguy71 said:

I may need to add a visit to Pattaya to my upcoming trip. When I was in Bkk a few months ago there was an absolute stunning shirtless guy working as a greeter in front of one of the bars, we got to talking and he was Russian. If someone of his calibre is available to bring back to my hotel, I wouldn't think twice about dropping 10,000 for the privilege ;) Any Pattaya locals got any input about the Russians working the bars there?

Haven't seen them at the bar or any entertainment scene in Pattaya. My last October trip, met two Russian on Grindr " I was approached and probably due to what I wrote on profile" and it seems more choices than the previous visit. A good surprise and I had fantastic time. Within the past 5 trip, I met at least one. I found them to be very discreeted and most stayed with family.

Saw a couple Russian guys on Grindr during my quick 24 hour Pattaya visit a couple weeks back. Didn't see any at the bars but we stuck to Jomtien that night. Straight scores bonus points for me. I visited Europe a half dozen times but never made it to Russia. So when the guy who was showing me around PC pointed out the Russian neighborhood, my ears and other body parts perked up. Definitely plan to seek a Russian out on the next visit at the end of the month. 10,000 baht? No. Maybe 10,000 rubles if they're super hot. Probably should pass on the military role-play request? 😜

1 hour ago, aaroninatl said:

Maybe 10,000 rubles if they're super hot.

= US$120

19 minutes ago, Mavica said:

= US$120

yup

3 hours ago, Mavica said:

= US$120

Cheap, compared to what we pay in Australia.

Being 'em on!

1 hour ago, a-447 said:

Cheap, compared to what we pay in Australia.

Being 'em on!

Exactly. I'm willing to pay the premium for blue eyes and/or blond hair. Plus they often have that muscle tone without being too 'roidy looking.

On 9/12/2026 at 3:38 AM, hank75 said:

The Sun

we should start to laugh rigth here

On 9/12/2026 at 3:38 AM, hank75 said:

Russia had changed sharply in recent years, claiming there was now "no money, no work and no hope"

Level of jobless is now lowest in history because Russia now is on historical demographic low - echo of WW II and dark times of transition from USSR to Russian Federation in 90's. Even salaries of couriers are above 1500 USD per month after taxes (just 5 years ago it was about USD650). Russia stimulates foreign citizens to work here, first of all - from Russian-speaking countries: citizens of such countries do not need visa or job permit - they just buying patent and registering in tax and pension depts, after it they have free medical service and insurance here.
At past week my order from supermarket has been delivered by men from African country with bad Russian, I think one of African students who is part-time working here.

On 9/12/2026 at 3:38 AM, hank75 said:

The report cited Ukraine's claim that Russia is suffering around 1,000 casualties a day, while stating that Russia is desperate to replace losses.

What else they may "claim"? Ukraine had 19 or 20 waves of mobilization at past years, Russia one only in October 2022 for 4 weeks. Borders of Russia are opened and everyone may leave if he wants. Borders of Ukraine are locked for males age 21-64 years.

But Zelenskiy climes Ukraine lost since 2022 40,000 soldiers and Russia 1.5 mln. After that "Ukraine's clime" read as a stupid joke.

I do not deny what some nervous males left Russia, they did, esp. in October 2022 - about 1 mln of males immigrated within one month, 70% returned within next year, about 300K are living now in Kazakhstan and Armenia mostly because Russians do not need any visa and do not need even travel passport and may live there just with regular ID and there are no any real border formalities for to cross Kazakh or Armenian border. These Russians are main source of forbidden by western sanctions western import: they buy to addresses in KZ and AM and sell to RU - one of the reasons why sanctions doesn't work.

9 hours ago, aaroninatl said:

Maybe 10,000 rubles

It is twice more than in Moscow now: cheap Ukrainian boys dropped market prices drastically. More than half of market are now Africans, Ukrainians, Colombians, Cubans, Vietnamese, some Philippians, Cambodians, Lao and Belarusians.

1 hour ago, Moses said:

we should start to laugh rigth here

Level of jobless is now lowest in history because Russia now is on historical demographic low - echo of WW II and dark times of transition from USSR to Russian Federation in 90's. Even salaries of couriers are above 1500 USD per month after taxes (just 5 years ago it was about USD650). Russia stimulates foreign citizens to work here, first of all - from Russian-speaking countries: citizens of such countries do not need visa or job permit - they just buying patent and registering in tax and pension depts, after it they have free medical service and insurance here.
At past week my order from supermarket has been delivered by men from African country with bad Russian, I think one of African students who is part-time working here.

What else they may "claim"? Ukraine had 19 or 20 waves of mobilization at past years, Russia one only in October 2022 for 4 weeks. Borders of Russia are opened and everyone may leave if he wants. Borders of Ukraine are locked for males age 21-64 years.

But Zelenskiy climes Ukraine lost since 2022 40,000 soldiers and Russia 1.5 mln. After that "Ukraine's clime" read as a stupid joke.

I do not deny what some nervous males left Russia, they did, esp. in October 2022 - about 1 mln of males immigrated within one month, 70% returned within next year, about 300K are living now in Kazakhstan and Armenia mostly because Russians do not need any visa and do not need even travel passport and may live there just with regular ID and there are no any real border formalities for to cross Kazakh or Armenian border. These Russians are main source of forbidden by western sanctions western import: they buy to addresses in KZ and AM and sell to RU - one of the reasons why sanctions doesn't work.

Thank you for sharing the Kremlin's latest propaganda with us. 🤨

On 9/14/2026 at 1:35 PM, BjornAgain said:

Are you implying the Murdoch press is unscrupulous?

You might very well think that; I could not possibly comment.

2 hours ago, aaroninatl said:

Exactly. I'm willing to pay the premium for blue eyes and/or blond hair. Plus they often have that muscle tone without being too 'roidy looking.

Thats jupiter superstar rate lol

3 hours ago, Moses said:

Level of jobless is now lowest in history

great to hear that worker's paradise from USSR times is now back

3 hours ago, Moses said:

Russia one only in October 2022 for 4 weeks.

that's the difference between aggressor and it's victim

2 hours ago, KeepItReal said:

Thank you for sharing the Kremlin's latest propaganda with us

You may hang any label on my post which keeps you calm and easy going, but any fact I wrote in post is easily checkable: waves of

mobilizations in Ukraine and locked borders, absent of mobilization in Russia besides 4 weeks in October'22, no restrictions to leave country for Russian males and this is exactly why you may watch Russians boys in Pattaya, 12%-spike of Armenian GDP in 2022 when Russians started to make business on western sanctions and pay taxes in Armenia, Russian "war by drones tactic" explains why Russia has no mobilizations these years and why "Ukraine's claim" "1000 per day" are fake...

to mobilize 300,000 4 years ago, "1,000 casualities per day" and have no mobilization 4 years after? Something is wrong in this math...

Just now, vinapu said:

that's the difference between aggressor and it's victim

That's true. And any book about war will tell you what advanced side has 4 times more causalities than defending side. So what do you think about facts what Ukraine violently mobilizes a lot of males and Russia nobody?

Foreign citizen telling from Kyev day ago https://www.instagram.com/reels/DdSDboBKzx4/
I suggest to search in Google "busification"

9 hours ago, Moses said:

That's true. And any book about war will tell you what advanced side has 4 times more causalities than defending side. So what do you think about facts what Ukraine violently mobilizes a lot of males and Russia nobody?

I think it's strange to be proud and boast about the war one's country started

It's interesting to see that tourists from two very different countries are in the news. Russia and Israel. Both invaders. The latter are allegedly causing serious concern and there was a demonstration by offended Thais outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok this week. Apparently, a sense of entitlement, cultural insensitivity and superiority, something I experienced at first hand from soldiers, policemen and armed settlers between 2004 and 2017 when I was visiting Palestine has resulted in shaming clips on Youtube and protests from local communities.

7 hours ago, Londoner said:

a sense of entitlement, cultural insensitivity and superiority, something I experienced at first hand from soldiers, policemen and armed settlers between 2004 and 2017 when I was visiting Palestine

one day visit to Hebron in 1995 made me understand that better than years of watching TV, clips on you Tube, reading magazines and listening to pontifications from supporters of both sides. Both of us were treated very well but other 5 passengers of our shared taxi ( sherut ) from Jerusalem were not and those were kind of quiet times. Can't envision how it is now as it was before wall and separate, settler only roads.