A crazed Ukrainian tourist sparked panic when he rampaged into a police station in Thailand claiming he had no money to buy a plane ticket home.

The barefoot man had scattered his clothes then grabbed a police shield and proceeded to punch it in front of baffled officers at the Patong Police Station on the island of Phuket on Sunday morning, January 14.

Police Lieutenant Sarawut Phutthaphonphiban said the incident unfolded at 9 am. He said residents living near the station were 'frightened and locked themselves indoors'.

Police took the suspect to the Patong Hospital to be sedated.

Officials said the man may have suffered a breakdown as he had no accommodation and no money to go back to Ukraine.

Police Lieutenant Sarawut Phutthaphonphiban added: 'He will be staying at the Patong Hospital while authorities are coordinating with the Ukrainian Embassy to find his relatives.'

Thai destinations Phuket and Pattaya have seen an influx of Russian and Ukrainian 'draft dodgers' fleeing conscription in the Ukraine-Russia war.