BELGRADE, Serbia — On Sunday, Serbian authorities denied any involvement in a significant explosion that temporarily disrupted water and electricity supplies to substantial areas of Kosovo. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic labeled the allegations against his country as part of a broader “hybrid” warfare effort.
Following an explosion on Friday in a Serb-majority region of northern Kosovo, officials reported that police detained eight suspects. The blast affected a canal, crucial for supplying water to Kosovo’s main power plants. Kosovo’s government characterized the incident as a “terrorist act” attributed to Serbia.
President Vucic refuted these claims, asserting, “On Friday, there was an attempt of a large hybrid attack on our country. Belgrade and Serbia have nothing to do with those events.” He indicated the possibility that the attack might have been orchestrated by Kosovo, though he opted not to implicate Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti directly until further investigations are completed.
“I will not say that Kurti directly ordered the attack,” Vucic stated. “The investigation will show; we have certain suspicions. We believe we have findings that could identify the perpetrator.” He also accused Kurti’s special forces of escalating tensions through operations in the north, claiming they harassed the local Serb population in a public relations act for the international community.
Kosovo police conducted raids across ten locations in the northern region, seizing over 200 military uniforms, six portable rocket launchers, various firearms, and ammunition. According to Kosovo police chief Gazmend Hoxha, around 15 to 20 kilograms (30 to 45 pounds) of explosives were utilized to target critical infrastructure.
The explosion has intensified existing hostilities between the two nations. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that has not received recognition from Belgrade. Many Serbs residing in Kosovo still view Belgrade as their rightful capital.
Both the European Union and the United States condemned the explosion, insisting that those responsible must face justice.
