Thai police monitor Russian tourists over 'dogs of war' fears in Cambodia clash

Police urged residents in northeast Thailand to monitor Russian tourists over fears the visitors could be mercenaries hired by Cambodia.

Authorities in Nakhon Ratchasima issued the warning on Monday, following reports that the Cambodian army had enlisted foreign agents to operate in the region.

Police Major General Narongsak Phromtha, commander of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police, cited a post by the Phon Krung Police Station stating that a Russian national hired by Cambodia was targeting key military and economic sites in the province.

He held an online meeting with all police chiefs in the province, adding that no further suspicious activity had been detected.

Police Major General Siriwat Deepor, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, said at a press conference that authorities were closely monitoring hotels, resorts, guesthouses, and rental properties. The public was also urged to report any suspicious individuals.

Officials reminded residents that a drone ban within a nine-kilometre radius of the local air base was still in effect.

The Russian Embassy later addressed the reports. It said: ‘The Embassy of Russia in Thailand has taken note of reports circulating in certain Thai media outlets alleging the possible involvement of Russian nationals as mercenaries hired by the Cambodian side to participate in the Thai–Cambodian border conflict.

‘Such unfounded assertions, likely generated from outside the region, appear intended to infringe upon the rights of Russian citizens present here as tourists or for business purposes and to undermine the traditionally friendly relations between Russia and Thailand.

‘The position of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Thai–Cambodian conflict is well known and was reiterated by the Ministry's spokeswoman during a briefing on December 11, 2025.

‘Russia has a lasting track record of upholding its traditional friendship and promoting cooperation with Thailand and Cambodia. We want all disputes to be resolved by peaceful means only.'

Fighting flared up earlier this month as the Thai army claimed Cambodian troops fired on a Thai engineering team building an access road in a disputed border area.

At least 15 Thai soldiers and one civilian have been killed since fighting resumed. In Cambodia, at least 11 civilians have died, while the number of soldiers dead is believed to be much higher.

Around 600,000 people have been displaced on both sides of the border.

Cambodia's assault has largely been wayward, unguided rockets fired indiscriminately into Thai territory, while Thailand has used precision drone strikes and fighter jet strikes on military sites.

Former Khmer Rouge henchman and Cambodian dictator Hun Sen - who was a leading figure in the genocide of his own people in the 1970s before assuming power in 1985 and overseeing the murder of thousands of opposition figures and critics - has repeatedly claimed that he wants peace and that Thailand is the aggressor.

Thai officials claim the ongoing border confrontations are a threat to national security, and the areas must be secured.

It has since emerged that Cambodia is paying five US lobbying firms almost 300,000 USD a month to 'wage an information war against Thailand', according to reports in local media.

Disgraced American lobbyist, Michael Alfaro or Michael B Alfaro, even posed as a 'White House correspondent' to access sensitive border areas and senior levels of the Cambodian government earlier this year. He was subsequently exposed by local media as a 'fake journalist'. Military chiefs and AI analysis have also shown that images he posted of the clashes are faked, doctored, or misrepresented.