Report on attack

Serbian attackers had weapons for 400 fighters

Last year saw the worst escalation of violence in Kosovo for years. A combat force invaded the north, which is almost exclusively inhabited by Serbs. One Kosovar police officer and three attackers were killed in the fighting.

(Bild: AFP)

Last year, a Serbian commando unit failed in a major attack in Kosovo. The government in Pristina has now warned in a report that the paramilitaries had further plans.

The security forces in Kosovo have confiscated weapons and military equipment for up to 400 fighters following the shootouts with Serbian paramilitaries last year.

What role does President Vucic play?
According to an investigation report by the Kosovo government, an analysis of confiscated documents and weapons of war also proves that the Serbian state provided equipment as well as close links to the apparatus of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic

(Bild: AP)

51-page paper
The 51-page paper from the Kosovo Foreign Ministry, for which photos and videos, data records and ID cards were examined, was made available to the German Press Agency on Monday. According to this information, it was shared with international agencies some time ago.

80,000 rounds of ammunition
In its investigation, the Kosovo government lists seized weapons of war that were confiscated in the presence of the Kosovo Protection Force KFOR and the EU rule of law mission EULEX. These included two armored trucks, 29 off-road vehicles, 66 assault rifles, 80,000 rounds of ammunition as well as mortars, hand grenades, mines, plastic explosives, sniper rifles and communications equipment. The origin and production dates - some only from 2022 - could therefore also be reconstructed using the enclosed documents.

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Four dead in previous year's attack
The tensions of recent years reached a climax on September 24 last year: a 30-strong, heavily armed Serbian commando unit fought with the Kosovar police in the village of Banjska near Mitrovica in northern Kosovo, which is inhabited by Serbs. Three Serbian attackers and one Kosovar police officer were killed.

Politician claims responsibility for attack
Kosovo Serb politician and businessman Milan Radoicic claimed responsibility for the attack. He claimed to have carried out the attack on his own initiative and not to have informed any official bodies in Serbia. On the other hand, the government in Pristina considers it impossible that Radoicic acted without help. The investigation report argues that the aim of the Serbian attackers was to clear a corridor in order to be able to push in more military supplies.

Kosovo warns of Serbian-Russian alliance 
The report also warns against Serbia's cooperation with the Russian state and President Vladimir Putin: "If the West continues to allow Vucic to escalate and does not take unmistakably clear steps to deter Vucic and Putin from further escalation, the Balkans could sink into war once again."