Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said that Russian Wagnerites are helping Serbian paramilitaries. They cooperate to smuggle arms and unmarked military uniforms into Kosovo.
According to the President, the Wagnerites are assisting in a covert operation designed to lay the groundwork for a possible hybrid attack by Serbia. Belgrade's goal is to seize Kosovo territory.
What is known about the “Crimean scenario” in the Balkans
Vyosa Osmani said that between the preparation of Serbia and the occupation Crimea by Russia in 2014, parallels can be drawn. We are talking about the events when the so-called “little green men” paved the way for the seizure of the Crimea.
They bring weapons and uniforms and are not formally part of the Serbian army. Serbia wants to achieve its goals without calling it a military operation,” Osmani said.
In the words of the President of Kosovo:
- Serbia’s goal is: “To prepare the situation for a possible annexation is not through a traditional military operation, but through a hybrid attack”;
- Belgrade continues to escalate tensions in the region in cooperation with the PKK Wagner, which recently began posting advertisements for the recruitment of Serbs to participate in the war in Ukraine;
- covert arms smuggling strategy for probable annexation lasts 6 months. Moreover, it matches the one used by Putin in Crimea 9 years ago.
If you look at what Putin did in 2014, then this is a complete copy, this is the same program of action. First he used the Russians who lived there, then he created all sorts of false flag operations, and then he sent in these paramilitary groups,” Wios Osmani said.
She said there was clear evidence that Serbian paramilitary groups were planning and organizing this with the Wagnerites. The country is now investigating how many of them were on the border or on the territory of Kosovo.
The situation around Kosovo: in brief
- December 2022 in Kosovo, elections were postponed in Serb-populated areas due to an increased level of danger.
- Then, the Serbs in the North of Kosovo built barricades and blocked traffic at the main checkpoints with Serbia. Subsequently, the media wrote that the Serbian Wagnerites staged an assault on the border with Kosovo.
- Serbia sent a request to the NATO KFOR peacekeeping contingent asking for permission to send thousands of police and army soldiers to Kosovo. Belgrade also asked NATO for permission to bring its troops into the country. However, Serbia's request was rejected.
- Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that Russia is also fueling conflict in the Balkans. According to him, this is due to the fact that Moscow is suffering yet another setback in the war in Ukraine.
