One suspect confessed after Thai police arrested two men fleeing to Cambodia over the disappearance of Russian siblings Diana Nazimova, 22, and Roman Nazimov, 17. Detectives are searching woodland for the bodies to verify his account.
One of Thailand’s most shocking missing persons investigations has taken a devastating turn after Thai police arrested two men fleeing towards the Cambodian border and obtained a confession from one suspect to the murders of Russian siblings Diana Nazimova, 22, and her 17-year-old brother Roman. However, the case has now reached its defining moment as search teams race to recover two naked bodies reportedly buried near Khao Chi Chan, where detectives hope to confirm the confession and finally reveal what happened after a week-long investigation marked by buried evidence, chilling messages, police dogs, an intensive manhunt and a trail of CCTV clues across eastern Thailand.
The search for two missing Russian siblings took a devastating turn on Friday after Thai police arrested two Thai men in Sa Kaeo province. During questioning, one suspect confessed to murdering both victims, according to police.
Even so, investigators have not confirmed the deaths because search teams must first recover the bodies.
Instead, officers raced to woodland near Khao Chi Chan in Chonburi after the suspect revealed the burial site, police said. That operation quickly became the focus of one of Thailand’s biggest criminal investigations this year.
Detectives hope the search will finally establish the fate of Diana Nazimova, 22, and her 17-year-old brother Roman Nazimov, who vanished before dawn on Sunday, July 26.
Arrests and confession transform hunt for missing Russian siblings as police race to recover buried bodies
The Russian sister and brother disappeared after leaving their home in Huai Yai, Bang Lamung district, on a black and grey Honda ADV motorcycle. Their unexplained disappearance quickly gripped Thailand and Russia.
At first, police launched a major missing persons investigation. However, every breakthrough only deepened fears that the pair had met with violence.
Investigators immediately began reconstructing the siblings’ final movements. CCTV footage tracked much of their journey across eastern Pattaya after they left home shortly before 4 am. Police eventually confirmed they were last definitively seen at about 4.33 am. After that point, they vanished without trace.
Notably, detectives also identified another motorcycle travelling behind the siblings shortly before contact was lost. That discovery became a crucial line of inquiry. Officers widened their review of surveillance footage while investigators traced possible escape routes and searched for additional witnesses.
CCTV trail and mystery motorcycle become crucial evidence after Russian siblings disappear before dawn
Meanwhile, the siblings’ mother, Ms Sarna, pleaded publicly for information as the search intensified. She waited anxiously while officers searched across Chonburi. However, every passing day increased concern. Friends, volunteers and police continued looking for the young Russians as the investigation gathered pace.
Soon afterwards, detectives disclosed another disturbing development. Messages received before the disappearance suggested Diana and Roman believed they were being pursued. Police declined to reveal the contents. Nevertheless, investigators confirmed the communications had become an important piece of evidence.
Then came the breakthrough that transformed the investigation.
Officers discovered the siblings’ dismantled Honda ADV motorcycle buried in woodland. Detectives immediately recognised somebody had gone to considerable lengths to conceal it. Consequently, the inquiry changed overnight. What had begun as a missing persons search rapidly became a suspected double murder investigation.
Buried motorcycle and chilling messages transform missing persons inquiry into double murder probe.
In response, police deployed specialist search teams across woodland near Pattaya. Police dogs joined the operation as officers combed dense vegetation for evidence. At the same time, forensic specialists examined the burial site while detectives interviewed additional witnesses and continued analysing CCTV footage.
In parallel, investigators expanded their intelligence operation. Officers reconstructed vehicle movements across eastern Thailand and examined every lead generated during the inquiry. Each development narrowed the investigation towards two Thai suspects believed to have fled Chonburi province.
Soon, detectives concluded both men were heading towards the Cambodian border. Arrest warrants followed as police launched an intensive manhunt across several provinces. Border police were alerted while surveillance teams tracked the suspects’ movements almost hour by hour.
The chase ended on Friday in Wang Sombun district of Sa Kaeo province.
Border manhunt ends in Sa Kaeo as police arrest two suspects trying to flee towards Cambodia
Police arrested 43-year-old Thana, known as Pong, together with 39-year-old Thongchai, known as Thong. According to investigators, both men had travelled across eastern Thailand while attempting to avoid capture.
However, CCTV footage repeatedly exposed their movements. Officers finally surrounded the pair before they could continue towards the border.
Separately, police said Pong described his failed escape plan in detail. He told investigators he rode through a checkpoint in Chanthaburi before continuing towards Sa Kaeo. However, he believed police would establish more checkpoints during daylight hours. As a result, he parked his motorcycle inside a longan orchard and hid there throughout the day. He planned to resume travelling after dark and cross into Cambodia through a natural border route. Instead, police found both suspects before they could escape.
The investigation then reached its most dramatic moment.
According to police, Pong abandoned any attempt to deny involvement. Investigators said he declared, “I’m done. Let me speak frankly.”
Police said he confessed to murdering both Russian siblings.
Suspect tells police “I’m done” before confessing to killing missing Russian sister and younger brother
According to investigators, Pong admitted shooting 17-year-old Roman twice. He then said he fatally assaulted Diana after she fought back. Police said he told detectives he stripped both victims before burying their bodies in woodland near Khao Chi Chan.
Afterwards, investigators said Pong admitted dismantling the Honda motorcycle and burying it separately to conceal the crime. He then fled eastern Thailand before Friday’s arrest.
On another front, Thong denied carrying out the killings himself. Instead, police said he blamed Pong for both murders. He reportedly told detectives, “I didn’t kill them, Pong did. Pong shot them in the stomach. The bombs were also Pong’s. Everything belonged to Pong. The bodies of the Russian siblings were buried in the forest on the mountain. I can take you there.”
Second suspect blames Pong and offers to lead detectives to woodland burial site near Khao Chi Chan
Detectives continue examining both accounts alongside the growing body of forensic evidence.
Crucially, officers have not yet verified the confession. Instead, another investigative team immediately travelled to the location identified during questioning. Their mission is clear. Recover the bodies. Secure forensic evidence. Confirm every key detail provided during questioning.
As part of this, specialist forensic officers remained on standby. Any remains recovered will undergo formal identification and post-mortem examination. Those findings are expected to establish the precise causes of death. They will also determine whether the confession matches the physical evidence recovered from the scene.
So far, police have disclosed no motive. Likewise, investigators have not ruled out whether anyone else played a role. Detectives continue examining communications, CCTV recordings, forensic evidence and the suspects’ movements before and after the siblings disappeared.
Search for bodies and forensic proof now becomes the decisive stage in this expanding murder investigation
Throughout the week, public concern intensified with every police announcement. First came the unexplained disappearance. Next came evidence suggesting the siblings believed they were being followed.
Then officers uncovered the buried motorcycle. Afterwards, police dogs joined the expanding search. Finally came Friday’s arrests and the reported confession.
For investigators, the arrests marked the biggest breakthrough since Diana and Roman disappeared. Even now, however, substantial work remains.
Two arrested, Two sought. Missing Russian siblings case grows darker in Pattaya with criminal links
Withheld evidence in Russian siblings case suggests the pair was being pursued early on Sunday morning
Detectives must recover the bodies, complete forensic examinations and reconstruct the siblings’ final hours. They must also establish why the killings occurred and whether anyone else was involved.
As darkness fell on Friday, attention shifted back to the wooded slopes near Khao Chi Chan. Search teams pushed deeper into the forest while detectives awaited confirmation.
For Ms Sarna, the operation represents the search she had dreaded since her children’s buried motorcycle was discovered. Police now hope the evidence hidden beneath the forest floor will finally reveal exactly what happened to Diana Nazimova and her younger brother, Roman Nazimov.
Join the Thai News forum, follow Thai Examiner on Facebook here
Receive all our stories as they come out on Telegram here
Follow Thai Examiner here
Further reading:
Police search for Russian siblings who disappeared after Sunday morning motorbike ride in Pattaya
Thailand closes its doors to dodgy foreigners and tourists who abuse their welcome through crime
60-day visa regime to be ended confirms Minister responding to rising industry security concerns
Tourism boss warns Thailand it is facing a Chinese blacklist if another security controversy erupts
Visa waiver scheme questioned with another China Crisis for foreign tourism driven by security fears
Tourism cryptocurrency sandbox payment plan is bound to face stiff opposition from the central bank
Thaksin calls for crypto-based bonds. Notes success and beauty of Isan women who marry foreigners
Future Bank of Thailand Chairman Pick warns that the Thai economy faces ‘disaster’ without rate cuts
