Cambodia and Russia Reject Thailand’s Fake News

Chhay Sophal

Phnom Penh (17 December 2025): Both Cambodia and Russia have rejected the allegation from Thailand that there have been Russians helping Cambodia to fight against the Thai invasion.

Cambodian Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Tuesday posted a message on his Facebook saying that “In recent days, there have been reports in some Thai media that Russian and foreign troops are participating in the fighting in Cambodia. In order to preserve Cambodia’s dignity, as well as that of the Russians and other accused foreigners, I would like to clarify that Cambodia has no Russian or foreign troops participating in the fighting on the battlefield or serving as military advisors to the Cambodian army”.

The Russian Embassies in both Phnom Penh and Bangkok have also rejected saying that some Thai media outlets’ reports are untrue, and that such allegations could affect the rights of Russian citizens in Thailand who are staying as tourists or doing business in Thailand, and could also damage long-term relations between Russia and Thailand.

The embassies also stressed that Russia maintains friendly and cooperative relations with both Cambodia and Thailand and supports a peaceful solution to the border dispute.

Cambodia used to have foreign troops on Cambodian soil but no more since the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) withdrew from Cambodia in 1993.

“We acknowledge that we have had foreign troops come to Cambodia for multinational or bilateral exercises, especially foreign naval forces that have come through the Sihanoukville Strait, which is a common practice that other countries have done in the framework of defense cooperation,” the Cambodian Senate President said adding that Cambodia also acknowledge that there are now many foreign nationals residing in Cambodia as tourists, investors, technicians, employees of foreign or local companies, etc., but they are not involved in the military or fighting sector.