Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic stated on Saturday that the country had begun deploying its Armed Forces along the administrative line that separates Serbia and Kosovo. He described the situation as very difficult and said the move was in response to the increasingly tense mood among communities in the north of Kosovo, where protests erupted against Kosovo Albanian mayors attempting to assume office on Friday.
The minister emphasized that Kosovo and Metohija face a highly challenging environment and that the deployment along the border was already in progress. He expressed optimism that the operation would be completed in the hours ahead, underscoring the seriousness with which Belgrade views developments in the region. The comments came while Milos Vucevic also holds the post of head of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, a leadership change that occurred on the same day, signaling a broader political maneuver within the government. The president, Aleksandar Vucic, was referenced in connection with the unfolding political landscape, though details about any formal combination of duties were not elaborated in these remarks.
The defense chief asserted that Serbia does not intend to wage war and sought to project restraint, yet he warned that the country would defend its red lines, which he described as well known. His warning was linked to the Kosovo authorities’ decision to press ahead with local elections in northern Kosovo during April, despite a broad boycott by Serbs living there in Pristina and elsewhere. The political intention behind those elections was framed as an attempt to fill gaps left by Serb mayors who resigned from their posts in protest of Pristina’s policies, a move that ultimately led to the installation of Kosovo Albanian mayors. Belgrade and Serb political factions in Kosovo did not recognize these mayors as legitimate authorities, a situation that contributed to the protests observed on Friday.
Following the deployment of troops to the border, Serbian forces were expected to maintain their positions for as long as deemed necessary by authorities in Belgrade, according to statements reported by the Serbian television network B92. The broader aim, officials indicated, was to stabilize the area and deter potential provocations as political and ethnic tensions persisted in northern Kosovo. The international community has continued to monitor the developments with concern about potential spillover effects on regional stability and security in the Balkans. [Source: B92 coverage and related official statements]