Russians have been given 90-day visa-free trips to Thailand amid a cash grab for wealthy oligarchs escaping war in their homeland - with alleged war criminal Vladimir Putin even being offered sanctuary.

The island of Phuket, seen in the video, in the south of the country have long been favouries of those from the former Soviet Union - and the few places in the country that can accommodate yachts and provide luxury accommodation.

With sanctions against Russia in the West due to the war with Ukraine, Thailand could now become a safe-haven for the assets and cash of Russian millionaires.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered Russians to receive visa-free holidays for up to 90- days - three times as long as Brits, Aussies and Americans - and even invited embattled Vladimir Putin to visit, despite him being subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.

Srettha and Putin met at China's Belt and Road Forum on Tuesday night and discussed boosting trade and cultural ties.

'I invited him to visit Thailand next year,' property tycoon turned politician Srettha said on Wednesday.

'President Putin likes Phuket, I understand he travels often.'

The Thai government claimed that Putin has accepted the invitation for early next year.

It comes as the country's ministers approved measures allowing Russian nationals to stay in Thailand for 90 days without requiring visas.

The Cabinet, on October 16, granted approval for the temporary visa exemption scheme increase from 30 days. The policy will be implemented from November 1 to April 30, 2024.

The government stated that the scheme would be beneficial for the country's economy and its foreign relations with Russia. They said it aims to foster stronger ties between the citizens of both nations, which form the bedrock of the bilateral relationship.

The Thai PM claimed that the 'colder winters' in Russia were a factor, with many of them looking for warmer climbs.

However, the influx of tourism cash from the oil and gas producing country is likely to be a bigger attraction to Thailand, which has a long history of ignoring human rights abuses.

The country allowed Nazi-allied Japan to build the Death Railway through its land in WWII, actively supported the Khmer Rouge while it carried out genocide on its own people, continued to ignore the atrocities raging in meth-producing Myanmar and has now cosied to up to Russia despite international condemnation for its actions in Ukraine.