KFOR Says KSF Respected Agreement Despite Brief Presence in North Mitrovica

Kosovo Security Force (KSF) vehicles briefly entered North Mitrovica this morning, covering nearly two kilometers through the northern part of the city, and later alleging the incident was a “mistake.”

KFOR said this evening that the long-standing agreement preventing KSF deployment in the North without its prior approval was respected.

“We acknowledge the statements made by the Kosovo Police and by the KSF that the KSF unit concerned had by mistake strayed from its course for a few minutes and promptly returned to its original itinerary, in southern Kosovo,” KFOR said in a written response to KoSSev.

“KFOR welcomes the continued respect by the KSF of the long-standing arrangement not to deploy KSF personnel to northern Kosovo, without prior notification to and concurrence by the KFOR Commander.”

According to KFOR, the agreement was “reiterated in today’s conversation between the KFOR Commander and the KSF Commander,” who confirmed that the “unit temporarily deviated from its course by mistake.”

KFOR further emphasized that it remains “well postured across Kosovo, including in the north,” and stands ready to respond to “any relevant security developments, in accordance with its long-standing UN mandate to contribute to a safe and secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo.”

The “Wrong Turn”

Shortly after 10:30 a.m., several KSF vehicles crossed the Eastern Bridge from South Mitrovica to North Mitrovica, driving along Knjaz Miloš Street and a portion of King Peter Street, reaching the gas station near the police station — a route stretching nearly two kilometers through the northern part of Mitrovica.

At first, some residents believed the vehicles belonged to KFOR, but they soon realized they were KSF units, prompting audible reactions from drivers — several honked in protest.

Deputy Regional Police Commander for the North, Veton Elshani, confirmed to KoSSev that the vehicles belonged to the KSF. He said they remained near the gas station for about five minutes, during which police stopped them and asked for an explanation.

“They said they had mistaken the location and thought they were still in South Mitrovica,” Elshani explained.

The police then escorted them back toward Dudin Krš site.

Kosovo’s Ministry of Defense later stated that during the movement of the KSF convoy from Istok to their barracks in South Mitrovica, the units had “taken a wrong direction.”

Reactions from Civil Society and Srpska Lista

Civil society organizations from northern Kosovo dismissed the explanation that the KSF units had “lost their way,” calling it unacceptable.

They urged KFOR to assume full responsibility for overseeing security arrangements in the North, increase its physical presence, and establish clear prevention mechanisms.

“The lack of an adequate response and oversight by KFOR calls into question citizens’ trust in international security guarantees and creates additional tension in an already fragile security environment,” their statement reads.

Meanwhile, Srpska Lista described the incident as a “dangerous and deliberate provocation.”

KSF Restricted from the North

Under a special 2013 agreement between Kosovo and NATO, KSF units cannot operate in the north without explicit authorization from the KFOR Commander.

However, with KFOR’s approval, KSF units were present in the North in August to assist in the recovery of a drowning victim’s body.

Although current authorities have called the 2013 arrangement a “shameful decision” made by then-President Hashim Thaçi, they nonetheless reaffirmed their commitment to it last year, issuing a formal letter of guarantee when Prime Minister Albin Kurti attended the funeral of a former KLA member in Leposavic accompanied by KSF personnel.

While NATO member states continue to cooperate with the KSF — and its representatives now officially meet with KSF leadership — the Alliance still does not formally support the transformation of the KSF into a regular army.

In early July, Belgium became the latest country to officially recognize Kosovo’s military attaché, as Kosovo announced plans to establish a defense office in the country.