Kathrine Frich
SVR said Serbian arms were being used to “kill and maim Russian soldiers and civilians.”
SVR said Serbian arms were being used to “kill and maim Russian soldiers and civilians.”
“Backstabbing the Brotherhood”
Russia’s spy agency SVR has launched a furious tirade against Serbia, accusing Belgrade’s weapons industry of secretly supplying Ukraine with deadly munitions, despite its official claim of neutrality.
Hundreds of Thousands of Shells
According to the SVR, Serbia has covertly shipped hundreds of thousands of rocket and howitzer shells, and over a million bullets, into the Ukrainian war zone.
The alleged shipments are said to pass through intermediaries like Czechia, Poland, and Bulgaria, masked by falsified end-user certificates.
Moscow Names and Shames Serbian Firms
The Russian agency went so far as to publicly list Serbian arms companies, accusing them of fueling what it dubbed a “conveyor belt of death.”
The statement accused Serbian arms workers of cashing in on the blood of “fraternal Slavic peoples.”
“Have You Forgotten Who Your Real Friends Are?”
SVR’s message dripped with indignation: “The desire of Serbian arms workers and their bosses to profit from bloodshed has made them forget who their true friends and enemies are.”
The agency reminded Serbia that Russia had “repeatedly come to its aid in critical moments of history.”
Belgrade Admits It: “Yes, Our Ammo Ends Up in Ukraine”
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has previously admitted that weapons made in Serbia do reach Ukraine, although indirectly.
Speaking to the Financial Times, he confirmed that export figures “around €800 million” were “generally correct”, but insisted Serbia sells to third parties, not directly to Ukraine.
Vučić’s Defense: “It’s Just Business”
The Serbian leader said arms exports were vital to restarting the country’s economy, explaining, “We export our ammunition. What others do with it is their business.”
He cited deals with countries like the U.S., Spain, and Czechia, distancing Belgrade from how the weapons are ultimately used.
Why Now? Russia’s Rant Comes Out of the Blue
It’s unclear what triggered the timing of SVR’s harsh attack.
The accusations come months after the Financial Times exposé, and just weeks after Vučić attended Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations as a guest of honor.
Kremlin praise turned into fury seemingly overnight.
Russia Turns on Vučić Despite Moscow Visit
Earlier this May, Vučić traveled to Russia to mark Victory Day, becoming one of the only European leaders present.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had praised Vučić and Slovak PM Robert Fico as “heroes” for defying Western pressure, but relations now appear to have soured.
Turbulence in the Skies: Vučić’s Flight Blocked, Forced to Land
In a bizarre twist, Vučić’s plane was banned from flying over Lithuania and Latvia, forcing it to land in Baku due to fears of Ukrainian drone attacks.
The episode adds more drama to the unraveling relations between Belgrade and its traditional ally Moscow.