- Category
- World
Russian Purchases of Thai Property Surge 38% Amid Rumors of a New Military Draft
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Roman Kohanets]( "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
Russian citizens sharply increased property purchases in Thailand during the first eight months of 2026, amid unconfirmed rumors of a new mobilization wave. This was reported by The Moscow Times on September 25, citing the business daily Vedomosti and the real estate research firm Sunway Estates.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
Vedomosti reported that Russian nationals purchased 1,050 properties in Thailand, worth a combined $123.5 million, between January and August.
The figure marked a 38% increase in the number of deals compared with the same period last year, according to Sunway Estates data cited by the outlet.
Alexey Igoshin, director of the investment firm Izbushka Properties, cited by Vedomosti, told that Russian deals rose 45% year-on-year, with investment volume climbing 65% over the same period.
He did not provide absolute figures. But he noted that Russians have become the second-largest group of foreign buyers in Thailand, accounting for 12.6% of all transactions, up from 7.9% a year earlier.
Prian expert Philipp Berezin estimated that Russian demand for Thai property grew by roughly 50% over the eight-month period, the outlet added. Citing data from Kalinka,
The Moscow Times reported that Thailand ranks as the second-most sought-after destination for Russian buyers, after the United Arab Emirates.
Phuket accounted for 63% of inquiries, Pattaya for 21%, and Bangkok and Samui for 8% each.
Berezin explained that Russians can transfer funds to Thailand and open local bank accounts with relative ease, and that properties can be purchased for under $100,000.
He added that living costs in Thailand remain lower than in Europe or the US.
-18c8b7fe1b5fa5887e16c3a8eb915cba.jpg)
Speculation about a new mobilization wave following Russia's September elections has circulated for months, though no formal decision has been announced or confirmed by Russian authorities
In August, sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the Financial Times warned of the possibility, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made similar statements.
Army replenishment has lagged behind frontline losses since December 2025, according to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
Bloomberg separately reported that Russian officials and recruitment-center staff fear a new mobilization and have advised relatives to leave the country.
The outlet noted that the Kremlin is weighing plans to send an additional 300,000 people to the war, though it indicated that no final decision has been made.
No Russian official has confirmed such plans, and it remains unclear whether the property purchases are directly connected to the reports.
The Moscow Times added that rumors of mobilization have also driven housing demand in other countries.
Citing Meduza, the outlet described a surge since late July in requests from Russians for long-term rentals in Georgia, Serbia, and Armenia. Agents in Tbilisi began fielding as many as five inquiries an hour, while queues formed for apartment viewings in Belgrade.
In Yerevan, one agent told the outlet that rental demand roughly doubled compared with winter and spring.
The financial dimension of this year's mobilization fears has been building for months.
Rents in Yerevan climbed by roughly 30% over three months by late July, with local demand drawing comparisons to the exodus that followed Russia's 2022 partial mobilization.
By late August, more than 113,000 Russians had crossed into Georgia through the Verkhny Lars checkpoint in a single week, including over 20,000 in a single day.
Discuss this article:
-4a56a6b482ec132402c16ef6fcabf9a2.png)
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
-b84bae12b935531911624e1ead564a99.jpg "“We Need Their Fear”: What Russian Officials and State TV Are Saying About War with Europe")
