A powerful blast struck Kosovo’s Ibër-Lepenci canal, triggering widespread water and electricity outages while authorities pledge a thorough investigation and readiness to respond to communities most affected.
After the incident, Kosovo’s prime minister Albin Kurti accused the Serbian government of orchestrating the blast, labeling it a criminal and terrorist act intended to cripple the country’s most vital infrastructure, a charge he voiced at a late Friday press briefing.
The explosion damaged portions of the Ibër-Lepenci canal in Zubin Potok, a northern town that supplies water to two coal-fired plants responsible for nearly all of Kosovo’s electricity for about 1.5 million residents. “We believe the attack comes from organized groups directed by Serbia”, the prime minister said, citing coverage from Koha Ditore, Pristina’s leading daily.
Kurti noted that professionals placed large quantities of explosives at several key points along the canal, where repairs are especially challenging. “There is no doubt this was an attempt to threaten the electricity and water supply in our country”, he stressed. He also announced plans to meet immediately after the briefing with the commander of KFOR, NATO’s Kosovo force, to discuss next steps.
European Union and United States ambassadors in Kosovo condemned the attack. “I condemn the grave incident that damaged the water canal in Zubin Potok, depriving large parts of Kosovo of the water supply”, stated Aivo Orav, head of the EU mission in Kosovo, in a message released on X, calling for an investigation into the incident.
Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, declared in 2008, a stance that continues to shape regional dynamics and international responses to events like this one.