Hun Sen countered allegations by Thai media and military, stating there are no Russian mercenaries or military advisors fighting alongside Cambodian forces at the border. He stressed that all foreign forces withdrew from Cambodian territory in 1993.
On 17 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Samdech Hun Sen, President of Cambodia's Senate, publicly denied claims from the Thai military and media suggesting Cambodia might have hired Russian or other foreign mercenaries to operate in combat zones along the Thai-Cambodian border.
Hun Sen stated on social media that Cambodia has no foreign soldiers or military advisors from any country participating in combat or serving with the Cambodian army. He reiterated that all foreign forces were withdrawn from Cambodian territory in 1993 after the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia completed its mission.
Hun Sen's clarification came after Thailand's 2nd Army Region reported suspicions that foreigners speaking English may have been controlling drones or unmanned aerial vehicles in the border area. Subsequently, several Thai media outlets reported these individuals might be Russian mercenaries.
Hun Sen acknowledged that Cambodia previously hosted foreign troops for bilateral or multilateral military training and allowed foreign naval vessels to dock at Sihanoukville port. However, he emphasized these were normal defense cooperation activities, similar to practices in other countries. He explained that many foreigners currently reside in Cambodia as tourists, investors, technicians, or workers in foreign and local companies, but none are involved in military operations or combat.
Earlier, on 15 Dec 2025 GMT+7, the Russian Embassy in Bangkok issued a statement denying these reports, warning that such allegations could endanger the safety of Russians living or traveling in Thailand. The embassy confirmed that Russia has no involvement in the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.
Source: Facebook/Samdech Hun Sen of Cambodia