Nakhon ratchasima: Police in Nakhon Ratchasima have issued an alert to all police stations in the area to be vigilant for foreign mercenaries. The Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police have been instructed to investigate any foreigners residing locally after identifying a potential risk of mercenaries infiltrating the country with intentions to commit crimes.
According to Thai News Agency, the Facebook page “Public Relations Division, Royal Thai Police” shared a message from the “Phon Krang Police Station, Nakhon Ratchasima Province” page. It stated that the provincial police had received reports suggesting the presence of Russian mercenaries, allegedly employed by Cambodians, in the province. These mercenaries are suspected of planning drone attacks on strategic sites like Air Force Base 1. Residents have been urged to report any foreign individuals residing in the area to the Phon Krang Police Station immediately.
Police Major General Siriwat Deepo, Deputy Spokesperson of the Royal Thai Police, confirmed through the Joint Thai-Cambodian Situation Press Center that the warning was based on intelligence from a security agencies meeting in the province. Alerts were disseminated to local police stations as part of a coordinated effort among security agencies. The Immigration Bureau is also enforcing strict screening measures at all entry points, including airports, ports, land routes, and border crossings, in collaboration with the military, local administration, and police, to deter any ill-intentioned foreigners from entering Thailand.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Narongsak Phromtha, Commander of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police, convened a meeting with the superintendents of all 32 district police stations in the province. They were directed to promptly investigate any public reports concerning foreigners residing in their jurisdictions.
The Russian embassy has responded to these claims, stating that reports of Russian spies collaborating with Cambodia are untrue. The embassy issued a Facebook statement denying the involvement of Russian citizens as mercenaries in the Thai-Cambodian border conflict. The embassy described the reports as unfounded and likely fabricated to harm Russian citizens’ rights and the longstanding friendship between Russia and Thailand. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains that Russia supports only peaceful resolutions to such disputes and values its cooperation with both Thailand and Cambodia.