Belgrade, Serbia (AP) – Russia exploded on Thursday, exporting weapons to Ukraine, saying it was a stabbing wound from its long-time Slav Balkan allies.
“In contrast to the 'neutrality' officially announced by Belgrade, Serbian defense companies continue to provide ammunition to Kiev,” the Russian Foreign Intelligence Agency SVR said in a statement.
Serbian arms exports to Ukraine, mainly Soviet-era ammunition that the Ukrainian Defence Force is still in use, but it is not clear why the Russian Foreign Security Agency has decided to respond immediately.
Serbian officials did not respond immediately.
Since the export leak was published in early 2023, it has been an open secret that Serbian weapons were shipped to Ukraine. Moscow then vowed to investigate the matter.
Serbian populist president Aleksandar Vucic claims he wants to take Serbia to the EU but maintains close ties with Russia. He violated EU warnings and participated in the Russian Victory Day parade in Moscow.
Vucic appeared in Brussels in Moscow parade on May 9, with EU officials warning that such actions seriously endangering the EU roads in Serbia. Officials say it is inappropriate to Vucic fight alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, given Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Vucic said his decision to participate in Putin's military parade, which marked the victory of World War II defeating Nazi Germany as part of an effort to maintain “traditional friendship” – Russia is a fellow Slavs and a fellow Orthodox Christian country – seeking EU entry.
Serbia, which relies almost entirely on Russian energy, refused to join Western sanctions on Russia over Ukraine's full invasion and did not support most EU statements that condemn the aggressiveness.
Russia has been silent so far on widespread reports of Serbia providing ammunition to Ukrainian forces, and Thursday's Russian statement was surprising.
“Using fake end-user certificates and simple plans of middle-class countries as cover for anti-Russian operations,” the Russian SVR statement said.
“The contribution of Serbian defense industry workers to the war released by the West, Europe hopes to see it as the result of Russia's “strategic failure” to reach hundreds of thousands of shells… and a million rounds of ammunition small arms.”
“This supply cannot be proven by 'humanitarian considerations'. They have an obvious purpose – to kill and deceive Russian military personnel and Russian civilians.”
“It seems that the desire of Serbian defense industry workers and their customers to profit from the blood of their brother Slavic people has made them completely forget who their true friends are and who their enemies are,” the Russian statement said.
