Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) accused Serbia of "stabbing Russia in the back," alleging that Serbian defense companies are selling ammunition and weapons to Ukraine. A statement published on the SVR's website on Thursday stated that "these sales have one clear purpose: the killing and wounding of Russian servicemen and civilians."
The statement indicated that Serbia is sending arms shipments to Ukraine through intermediaries from NATO countries, including the Czech Republic, Poland, and Bulgaria, as well as some African countries.
In an interview with state television RTS, Vucic said he discussed Serbian arms exports to Ukraine with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, during his visit to Moscow on May 9, denying some of the accusations made by the Russian intelligence service.
Since the beginning of the war, Serbia has been trying to maintain a balance between its historical ties with Russia and its efforts to join the European Union. Although it condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it refrained from joining Western sanctions imposed on Moscow.
According to a classified Pentagon document, Serbia agreed in 2023 to supply weapons to Kyiv, despite the country's declared military neutrality. Moscow has repeatedly criticized Belgrade for this.
Although Belgrade refused to join Western sanctions against Russia, it denounced Moscow's policies at the United Nations and expressed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, including the territories controlled by Russia.
Since February 24, 2022, Russia has launched a military attack on its neighbor, Ukraine, and has made ending the offensive conditional on Kyiv abandoning its membership in Western military entities. Kyiv considers this "interference" in its affairs.
