KFOR has confirmed it authorized the deployment of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) teams to the area of Lake Gazivode (Ujman) on Tuesday morning, as part of an ongoing effort to recover the body of a 33-year-old man who went missing after jumping from a bridge into the lake several days ago.
“On Tuesday 29 July 2025, the Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Enrico Barduani, authorised the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to deploy Search and Rescue (SAR) teams in the area of Ujman/Gazivoda lake,” the mission stated.
The operation was authorized “in full accordance with the KFOR Commander’s prerogatives and authorities” and is subject to “specific requirements set by KFOR,” which is also providing security throughout the mission.
KSF acting under civilian support mandate
KFOR emphasized that KSF’s involvement remains within its civilian support mandate:
“The use of the KSF SAR teams falls under KSF’s mandate, which includes support to local communities, in response to natural disasters, through search and rescue operations.”
The mission also reaffirmed its UN-backed mandate:
“KFOR continues to implement its mandate – based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 – to contribute to a safe and secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo and freedom of movement, at all times and impartially.”
KFOR added it is operating in coordination with Kosovo Police and EULEX in line with their respective responsibilities.
Ponoš: Body located days ago – deployment politically timed
The deployment of KSF was preceded Monday evening by public allegations from Serbian opposition leader and former Chief of the General Staff, Zdravko Ponoš, who claimed the young man’s body had already been located earlier:
“The young man’s body was already found, but the search was deliberately delayed in order to enable KSF to enter the North – with KFOR’s approval,” Ponoš wrote.
There has been no official confirmation of this claim from KFOR or Kosovo institutions. The body still had not been recovered at the time of writing.
Context: KSF presence sparks political commentary, but not a first
KSF’s entry into the North has drawn particular attention in Kosovo’s Albanian-language media and political discourse, especially after the ruling Vetëvendosje party declared:
“KSF is for the first time operating as an army in the north of the country.”
Kosovo’s Ministry of Defence also highlighted the deployment in a statement this morning, citing the operation as an example of KSF support to civilian authorities.
However, this is not the first time KSF has operated north of the Ibar River. In 2015, its search-and-rescue units were involved in a recovery operation for a drowned ethnic Albanian youth in the River Ibar. And in 2023, KSF members were present in North Kosovo during the funeral of a former KLA member — an incident that led the government to send written assurances to NATO pledging not to deploy KSF without prior KFOR approval.
Under the 2013 agreement between Kosovo and NATO — often referred to as the „Thaçi Agreement“ — any KSF presence in the North requires explicit authorization from KFOR and prior consultation with local authorities. KFOR reiterated today that this framework was respected in full.
Search continues for missing man from diaspora
The young man whose body is being sought was identified as a 33-year-old ethnic Albanian from the diaspora, who was vacationing in Kosovo. He reportedly jumped into the water from a bridge near the Kolashin cliffs on Sunday — a popular, albeit dangerous, swimming spot.
Despite the efforts of local police and volunteer rescue units, the search was unsuccessful for two days. KSF’s specialized dive and search unit is now conducting operations under KFOR’s command and supervision.
The case remains under intense scrutiny, not only for its humanitarian urgency but also for the broader political implications of military presence and cross-institutional coordination in northern Kosovo.
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