Accused by Russia of supplying weapons to Ukraine, Serbia warns of investigation

Serbia and Russia will conduct a joint investigation into how Serbian-made ammunition reached Ukraine, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said.

Moscow accused Belgrade on Thursday of supplying Kiev with weapons.

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) accused Belgrade of "backstabbing," saying Serbian arms manufacturers were selling ammunition and weapons to Ukraine.

"They [the arms sales] have a clear purpose – to kill and injure Russian military personnel and the civilian population," the SVR said in a statement published on its official website on Thursday.

The SVR alleged that Serbia sends weapons to Ukraine through NATO intermediaries, including the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria, as well as several African countries.

Serbia continues to maintain a balance between historical ties with Russia and the European Union.

Belgrade has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine but has so far refused to join the West in sanctioning Moscow.

Vucic told state broadcaster RTS that he had discussed Serbian arms exports to Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow on May 9 and denied some of the SVR's allegations.

"We have created a working group, together with Russian partners, to find out the facts. Some of the things that have been said are not true," Vucic told RTS on Thursday night.

According to a classified Pentagon document, Serbia agreed in 2023 to supply weapons to Kiev, despite declaring itself militarily neutral.

Moscow has repeatedly criticized Belgrade on this issue.

Serbia's defense industry produces weapons and ammunition with designs derived largely from Soviet military technology of the 1980s, similar to those used by both Ukraine and Russia.

"Our factories must definitely live and work. About 24,000 people work directly in the defense industry," Vučić said.

Serbia wants to join the European Union, but Russia, a Slavic and Orthodox ally, remains the country's largest gas supplier, and Serbia's only oil refinery is almost entirely owned by Russia's Gazprom and Gazprom Neft.

Although Belgrade has refused to join the West in imposing sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, it has condemned Moscow's policies at the United Nations and expressed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, including the territories held by Russia.

Vucic has also met at least three times with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky./ REL