As reported by Open4business, the Embassy of Ukraine in Thailand advised Ukrainian citizens to observe increased security measures in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat amid a sharp escalation of the situation and a series of simultaneous attacks that occurred on the night of August 23.
According to Thai security forces, on the evening of August 22, 51 incidents were recorded in the three southern provinces, including explosions, arson and damage to infrastructure facilities. Of these, 22 incidents occurred in Narathiwat, 18 in Yala and 11 in Pattana. At least two civilians were initially reported injured in Narathiwat.
Attacks targeted, in particular, shops, telecommunications infrastructure and other facilities. In Narathiwat province, after a series of attacks, the authorities temporarily imposed a curfew from 22:15 on August 22 to 06:00 on August 23.
In the morning of August 23, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of Thailand Anuthin Charnwirakul called an emergency meeting of the heads of security forces in connection with the scale of the night attacks. The authorities have strengthened security measures in the region.
The consequences of the attacks also affected transport. The State Railway of Thailand has temporarily closed the section between Maruebo and Tanyong Mat stations in Narathiwat after discovering damage to the railway track from the explosion. In the morning, new explosions were also reported in Pattana and Narathiwat.
The Embassy of Ukraine recommended citizens who are already in Pattana, Yala or Narathiwat to observe enhanced personal security measures and follow the orders of local authorities. In case of a threat to life or health, Ukrainians are advised to contact the hotline of the embassy in Thailand: +66 970 107 760.
The current escalation is not directly related to the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, which is unfolding on another part of the country's border.
Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat are located in the extreme south of Thailand near the border with Malaysia. These are mainly Muslim provinces that were historically part of the Malay Sultanate of Patani.
The region has been in armed separatist conflict for more than 20 years. The main rebel organization is considered to be Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). Since the new outbreak of the conflict in 2004, violence has claimed the lives of more than 7,800 people. In recent months, the number of attacks has increased again.
One of the most serious incidents was the July 22 attack on a checkpoint in Narathiwat: gunmen opened fire and used improvised explosive devices, killing five paramilitary soldiers and injuring civilians. After that, special security measures were tightened in the province.
A day earlier, on July 21, an explosive-laden car exploded near a police facility in Narathiwat. It was the first such car bombing in the southern region of Thailand in 2026.
Back in June, two separate explosions in Yala and Pattana injured 11 policemen, and in Pattana gunmen attacked a biomass power plant, temporarily closing a key stretch of highway.
Amid the continuing threat, the Thai government in July For the 85th time, the state of emergency has been extended in large parts of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala from July 20 to October 19, 2026. At the same time, a number of quieter areas were excluded from the scheme.
At the same time, Bangkok is trying to restore political dialogue. Thailand's new chief negotiator, Thanut Suvanananda, announced in August that he intended to change the approach to the peace process with the BRN, including discussions of political demands, elements of decentralization and possible amnesty. Negotiations brokered by Malaysia have been ongoing since 2013, but have been interrupted several times.
A number of foreign countries had recommended avoiding non-essential travel to Pattani, Yalu and Narathiwat even before the current series of attacks. For example, the British Foreign Ministry advises not to travel there unless absolutely necessary due to regular armed attacks near the Malaysian border.
So, the warning of the Ukrainian embassy is not related to the general deterioration of security throughout Thailand, but to the sharp exacerbation of the chronic armed conflict in the three extreme southern provinces. The main tourist regions of the country - Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Samui, Krabi and Chiang Mai - are outside this conflict zone.
