Serbia-Ukraine Arms Deal: Russia Accusation
Russia accuses Serbia of supplying weapons to Ukraine, a move that could significantly alter the country’s position on the global stage. The Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claims Serbian defense companies have been sending rockets and small arms cartridges to Ukraine, branding the sales a violation of Serbia’s official neutrality. The SVR views the actions as a betrayal, possibly aimed at harming Russian personnel. Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić defends the exports as legitimate transactions,highlighting Serbia’s ties with both Kyiv and Moscow. News Directory 3 closely follows this developing story, including Serbia’s reliance on Russian gas and its aspirations for EU membership. This controversy could strain diplomatic relations and impact Serbia’s future. Discover what’s next.
Russia accuses Serbia of Ukraine Weapons Supply
Updated May 29, 2025
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused Serbia’s defence industry of supplying weapons to Ukraine, despite Serbia’s officially neutral stance in the conflict. The SVR alleges that several leading Serbian defense companies have been sending rockets adn small arms cartridges to Ukraine using falsified end-user certificates.
According to the SVR, these shipments, numbering in the hundreds of thousands of rockets and millions of cartridges, cannot be justified on humanitarian grounds. The agency views these actions as a betrayal, stating that the sole purpose is to harm Russian servicemen and civilians.
Reports indicate that serbia has exported approximately 800 million euros ($908 million) worth of ammunition to Ukraine through third countries as Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has defended these exports as legitimate transactions conducted through intermediaries, including the United states, Spain, and the Czech Republic. Vučić emphasized Serbia’s friendly relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, stating his priority is to care for his people.
“We have friends in Kyiv and in Moscow. These are our Slav brothers,” Vučić told FT. “I need to take care of my people, and that’s it.”
The SVR’s statement also referenced shared Slavic heritage, accusing Serbia’s defense sector of profiting from the conflict between “fraternal Slavic peoples.”
Serbia maintains strong ties with Moscow,relying heavily on Russian gas. Despite being a candidate for EU membership, Serbia has not joined Western sanctions against Russia related to the war in Ukraine. Since the invasion in February 2022, thousands of Russians have relocated to Serbia.
What’s next
The accusations could strain relations between Russia and Serbia, potentially impacting serbia’s EU membership aspirations and its energy dependence on Russia.