The Serbian Ministry of Defense has accused heavily armed members of the Kosovo Police of unauthorized entry across the administrative line near the village of Ćirkovići. The incident reportedly occurred on Kosovo’s northern border, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić alleging that Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti ordered the provocation.
In a late afternoon statement, the Serbian Ministry of Defense condemned the alleged crossing, describing it as a deliberate and provocative act aimed at escalating tensions in the region.
“The Ministry of Defense strongly condemns the unauthorized crossing of the Administrative Line between Central Serbia and the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija by a group of heavily armed members of the so-called Kosovo Police near the village of Ćirkovići,” the statement read.
The ministry claimed this act constitutes a calculated violation of agreements by “temporary Pristina institutions under the leadership of Albin Kurti.”
They called on KFOR, the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, to take immediate measures to prevent further escalation.
“KFOR, as the sole legitimate military authority in Kosovo, must act within its mandate to stop Pristina’s attempts to provoke violence in our southern province,” the statement added.
Serbian military units stationed in the Ground Safety Zone are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.
Vučić: “Kurti Ordered the Provocation”
President Vučić echoed the ministry’s concerns during a televised appearance, stating that he does not expect KFOR to respond but is looking to the United States for action.
“Americans know that Kurti deliberately ordered this provocation, expecting these individuals to be eliminated to justify involving NATO in a conflict with Serbia,” Vučić asserted.
He called on the U.S. to confirm whether Kurti personally authorized the alleged breach. “If similar incidents recur, Serbia will respond in full accordance with its protocols,” he warned.
Limited Response from Pristina and KFOR
Kosovo’s authorities, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the central police directorate in Pristina, have not yet commented on the incident.
Attempts by KoSSev journalists to obtain statements from the Kosovo Police and KFOR yielded limited responses.
While a representative from the northern Kosovo Police claimed to have no knowledge of the event, KFOR stated they are gathering precise information and will provide an update.
Historical Context
This is not the first time such accusations have arisen.
In June 2023, Serbian officials detained three members of the Kosovo Police, alleging they had crossed into Serbian territory.
Pristina denied the claim, describing the officers’ detention as a kidnapping on Kosovo’s soil.
That incident led to Kosovo imposing a ban on Serbian imports, which remains partially in effect despite diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute.
The decision was, however, recently amended, allowing the import of goods from Serbia only at the Merdare crossing, subject to detailed manual inspections, pending the arrival of scanners.
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