I would say, some 70% of them are corrupt government officials and/or their children seeking a refuge in Thailand as they are not able to travel to Europe any more. They want to stay in Thailand long time until the war is ended. They are buying fake ED visas and fake Non-O visas in Phuket and Pattaya.
How many more fugitives and criminals from all over the world have found a safe heaven in Thailand? Most of them are concentrated in Pattaya and Phuket, some of them in Bangkok as well.
This is no surprise.
In many schools in Thailand homework is not enforced. Pupils are getting used to relaxed studying in sabai-sabai style. TIT
Especially with the start of Covid-19, children did not go to school for one year and a half in Thailand.
No surprise.
Because Thai Education System is all Sabai-Sabai. Many schools in Thailand are not enforcing pupils' homework anymore. It used to be different about 20-30 years ago as my wife says.
At the same Non O doesn't have many of those requirements:
No insurance is required
No criminal record clearance is required
No medical certificate is required
This is extremely incorrect and unfair!
Also, converting an existing visa to NON O to allow extension of stay based on retirement is a controversial and illegal practice!
If you want to stay in Thailand for "retirement", you are supposed to go to your home country and properly apply for NON O-A visa.
Obviously, there is special preference for the Russian, Chinese and Kazakhstani nationals to stay in Thailand for a very long time! I think this is not good at all. What do you think?
Probably by Russian or Ukrainian mafia, there are so many of them now in Phuket, Pattaya, Samui. The things are getting more tense with large number of Kazakhstani nationals arriving on Visa Free scheme introduced by Srettha.