Oliver Pugh hunt: Missing Brit boy may now be in Thailand

A missing three-year-old Brit was reported missing by his devastated dad after he was last seen in the Marbella resort on the Costa del Sol on 4 July, according to police

New hopes have emerged that a missing three-year-old British boy^[1] could be located after social media hints suggest his mum, who allegedly “abducted him”, might be in Thailand.

Oliver Pugh^[2] was reported missing by his distraught father after last being seen in the Marbella resort on the Costa del Sol on 4 July. There are concerns that he disappeared with his Russian influencer mother, Anastasiia Chikina, six weeks ago – just before a court could prevent her from having custody of Oliver.

The child’s dad has initiated a desperate search to locate his missing son and return him to Marbella, offering a reward of £87,000, but so far, no leads have emerged.

However, two Instagram^[3] stories posted a week apart appear to show her inside the Iconsiam shopping centre in Bangkok. The mum is seen dining with the Hula Hula Juice Bar visible in the background on 31 August. While the juice bar cannot be found online, there are reviews of the Iconsiam food court that include photos of the same juice bar.

A second image surfaced yesterday, 5 September, showing Anastasiia and her 15-year-old sister walking past a Cartier shop.

Furthermore, other clues suggest her mum might be in the shopping centre, including the position of the escalators, the style of the benches, and a ceiling that indicates it is the Cartier store in Iconsiam.

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This gives hope that the toddler, born in Marbella but with a UK passport, might be located. Oliver was under the care of his separated parents when a court recently decided his dad would have full custody of the child.

It is believed that after the final hearing in July, the Russian national fled the country with her son. The mum was barred from leaving the country and ordered to give up Oliver’s passport. Despite this, she told the court she lost his passport before fleeing the country.

Authorities have since launched an abduction investigation and a missing persons^[6] appeal.

The heartbroken dad previously appealed for his son to be brought back home safely.

He told The Sun: “Oliver needs and deserves to have both of his parents in his life. By taking him away from his father, his friends, and everything familiar, the only one truly being hurt is Oliver.

“I know you love him and want the best for him, but this is causing pain not just for him, but for you and your family too.

“Please, stop before it gets any harder for everyone.”

The Foreign Office confirmed it is “supporting the family of a British child who has been reported missing in Spain”.