The Russian Embassy in Thailand has formally rejected media reports claiming that Russian citizens are acting as mercenaries for Cambodia in the ongoing border conflict with Thailand. In a statement issued on Facebook, the embassy dismissed the allegations as unfounded and likely fabricated from sources outside the region.

Korat Police on Alert for Possible Foreign Mercenaries, Drone Activity

The embassy asserted that these reports not only risk violating the rights of Russian citizens currently in Thailand for tourism or business but also harm the long-standing friendly relations between Russia and Thailand. It referenced a December 11 briefing by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterating Moscow’s position of maintaining traditionally friendly ties with both nations involved in the dispute.

“Russia has traditionally maintained friendly and cooperative relations with both Thailand and Cambodia,” the embassy stated, emphasizing that Moscow supports resolving all disputes exclusively through peaceful means. It called for responsible reporting to prevent misinformation from escalating tensions or damaging bilateral relations.

Thailand spots russian mercenaries on the Cambodian border. Rus embassy in Thailand strongly denies its involvement in fueling the border conflict….

Don’t believe a thing until russia denies it… pic.twitter.com/gCDCKu0eyH

— Aнїa (@zajacpoziomka7) December 15, 2025

The denial comes amid heightened security alerts within Thailand. Earlier reports indicated that Thai authorities were monitoring suspicions of foreign mercenaries, potentially on Cambodia’s payroll, conducting espionage related to the border tensions. Concerns were partly driven by the Thai military’s observation of increasingly sophisticated drone operations by Cambodian forces, suggesting the involvement of specialized personnel.

In response, police in Nakhon Ratchasima province—home to a key Royal Thai Air Force base with F-16 jets recently active in the conflict—had urged the public to report sightings of suspicious foreign men, particularly Russians staying in local accommodations. A police spokesperson confirmed last Wednesday that security had been intensified at Bangkok’s international airports to monitor reports of mercenaries transiting to Phnom Penh.

Border Clashes Escalate as Cambodian Rockets Strike Surin’s Ta Kwai Area

The Russian Embassy’s statement represents a direct attempt to quell the narrative, underscoring Russia’s official neutrality and urging a focus on diplomatic resolution.

-Thailand News (TN)