Russia has allowed Myanmar nationals entry to Russia using electronic entry visas as of 1 August, according to a report by Asia News.

The report on 8 August said that Myanmar has plans to open consulates in Russia’s southern city Novosibirsk and in its second largest city St Petersburg as the number of Russians who are relocating to Myanmar has increased since the war with Ukraine.

The Russian Orthodox Church has also announced the construction of a new Church of the Transfiguration in Yangon, on land donated by municipal authorities.

According to the report, “Russia has turned east” following its invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions by the West, and it is increasing ties with Myanmar, which is suffering a civil war between the ruling junta and the resistance forces.

In addition to Myanmar nationals, citizens of Vietnam and Cambodia are authorized to enter Russia with easy-to-obtain electronic visas.

Showing his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has visited Russia, which is selling weapons to his army and giving training to his soldiers.

Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, published a report in May titled “The Billion Dollar Death Trade: International Arms Networks that Enable Human Rights Violations in Myanmar” that said since the coup the Myanmar military has imported at least US$1 billion worth of arms and dual-use goods to support the military’s domestic arms manufacturing. Among them, Russia stands top with $406 million from its entities, including state-owned entities, followed by China, Singapore, India and Thailand.