A Ukrainian man remains detained, whilst under assessment and treatment at the Patong Hospital after an incident at the Patong Police station yesterday morning.
Patong Police report that the man was in custody following a series of disruptive incidents, mostly “fuelled by alcohol”. The man, identified as a Ukrainian tourist, engaged in destructive behaviour, causing damage to both public and private property within the station premises.
Law enforcement officials characterised the individual as “being in a state of delirium”, creating a public nuisance and disturbing other private citizens in the station at the time. Reports from Thai media suggested that the man was destitute and lacked the financial means to return to Ukraine.
It appeared that he had experienced a mental breakdown of some kind.
The police took the Ukrainian man into custody and subsequently took him to Patong Hospital for medical assessment and treatment. Sedatives were administered by hospital staff to help themas calm down.
Currently, the man is under official custody at Patong Hospital, with authorities making efforts to contact the Ukrainian Embassy and any relatives who might assist with his current predicament.
Law enforcement officials stated that they would await the man’s recovery before determining the next course of action. The Phuket Express, a local media outlet, reported an increasing number of destitute Ukrainian and Russian nationals in Phuket since the outbreak of the war between the two countries.
“Many individuals, seeking refuge in Thailand for various reasons, are encountering financial difficulties.”
