Russia Warns Citizens Against Travel to Thailand, Citing US 'Special Operations' to Detain Russians

Russia's Foreign Ministry has warned its citizens against traveling to Thailand, claiming that the United States is conducting "special operations" to capture Russians there. The ministry stated that Washington has "launched a real hunt for Russians" in Thailand, disregarding local authorities, and that many detainees face threats and pressure.

Since the start of the Russia–Ukraine war, the US "wheel of punitive justice" has been turning with particular intensity, according to Russian officials. They advise Russians who may be targets of US criminal prosecution to avoid not only travel to Thailand but also layovers at Thai airports.

Thailand indeed extradites Russians wanted by the US. In November 2025, authorities detained a "world-class hacker" with Russian citizenship, believed to be Alexey Lukashev, a GRU senior lieutenant and Fancy Bear hacker suspected of involvement in US election interference.

Simultaneously, Thailand also detains Russians at Russia's request. In 2024, members of the band Bi-2, who had spoken out against the war in Ukraine, were briefly jailed; Russia sought their extradition but failed.