And things to continue to bubble as Russia continues to try and distract from Ukraine and cause problems elsewhere..

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/10/31...ons-boil-over/

In Northern Kosovo, Tensions Threaten to Boil Over

​​​​​​​JUST IN: #Kosovo gov't officials have stated that the Russian mercenary network known as the "Wagner Group" has illegally entered the north of Kosovo to cause tensions and fuel the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia.

PLAAF Y-20
 

Don't forget the six PLAAF latest Xian Y-20 which turned up Nikola Tesla International Airport back in April

https://theaviationist.com/2022/04/1...-20-to-serbia/

And i suspect the one Y-20 I saw in my other neck of the woods at Airpower 2022 in Zeltweg back in Sept and that was the highlight of the show, (my pic below). I suspect the PLAAF Y-20 fleet was and still is in and out of Europe.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6ac03205f7.jpg
cheers

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ne-war-falters

Kosovo PM says Russia is inflaming Serbia tensions as Ukraine war falters

Kosovo’s prime minister, Albin Kurti, has warned of Russia inflaming tensions between his country and Serbia due to the war in Ukraine faltering, as Belgrade took its first step in deploying troops to the region.

Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo, where they are in the majority, have had barricades set up for more than a week, preventing the free movement of the Kosovan authorities, despite US and EU calls for the illegal road blocks to be dismantled.

A large group of members of the Narodne Patrole, a Serbian nationalist organisation with ties to the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, had also massed on Sunday on the Serbian side of the Serbia-Kosovo border threatening to confront Nato troops.

With the risk of violent clashes growing, Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, used his right under a UN resolution to ask Nato for permission to send 1,000 police and army personnel, citing a need to protect Serbian communities. Serbia’s request on Friday, the first since the Kosovan war ended in 1999, will almost certainly be rejected, but the concern will be that it could be the first step towards a unilateral decision to deploy.

Kurti said he was anxious the tense situation could escalate to the advantage of Vladimir Putin with Russian and Serbian forces having conducted 104 joint military exercises in 2021. The Kosovan leader added that he had agreed to give Nato-led troops, known as Kfor, time to persuade those on the barricades to stand down but that they could not be allowed to remain much longer.

He described the barricades as a step towards partitioning the country, which has been independent from Serbia since 2008.

“Our worry [is] that removal of these barricades cannot exclude casualties,” he said. “And that’s why we want to be as careful as possible to make sure that there will be no destabilisation and relative peace and security will be in place. However, we cannot allow this violation of lawfulness and constitutionality for ever. So, yeah, this must end, sooner the better.”…….

JUST IN: The Serbian Armed Forces and the police are on full combat readiness, Defense minister says - Kommersant/Politika

"The President of Serbia, as Commander-in-Chief, ordered tonight that the Serbian Armed Forces be at the highest level of combat readiness, i.e. preparedness up to the level of the use of armed forces, i.e. the armed potential of the Serbian Armed Forces" - Defense minister

Which bit? BBC & Sky News:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64099388

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64099388

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić has announced that the Serbian Army has now begun to Deployed towards the Border with Kosovo after being placed on High-Alert earlier today; this announcements follows Major Riots and Protests across Northern Kosovo today by Ethic-Serbs who are angry that the Kosovan City of Zvecan has elected an Ethic-Albanian Mayor.…

Does this mean energy prices are going up again? or do I need another injection?

Not major energy players - thank God!

2 U.S. Air Force B-1B Heavy Bombers launched from RAF Fairford in the Southern U.K. flew low over the the Bosnian Capital of Sarajevo today in a “Show of Strong Partnership” between the U.S. Military and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At least 1 B-1B was spotted over Sarajevo this morning.

​​​​​​​

Carl Bildt: “This is the worst that’s been seen in 🇽🇰 for many years. Serb militants in northern 🇽🇰 attack Nato forces and wound eleven of them.”…

Apparently 30, 11 Italians & 19 Hungarians.

Correction: Now 20 Hungarians.

"Who lets the dogs in... who, who... ?"

The choices are Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia or.... Serbia. So who permitted a terrorist organisation to enter their country and then cross over into another state? Into the northern areas of that state... the bit adjoining Serbia.
Wondering why the airspace and land borders into and out of Serbia are still open if they have decided to use a terrorist organisation to further their political aspirations in Kosovo.

https://news.sky.com/story/nato-to-d...-rise-12893256

NATO to deploy extra 700 troops to Kosovo as tensions with ethnic Serbs rise

NATO will deploy an extra 700 troops to Kosovo amid rising tensions with ethnic Serbs.

An additional battalion of reserve forces have also been put on high alert to be deployed if needed, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has said. He said attacks in Kosovo "must stop".

Mr Stoltenberg warned that NATO troops "will take all necessary actions to maintain a safe and secure environment for all citizens in Kosovo".

He urged both sides to take steps to de-escalate, refrain from "further irresponsible behaviour", and to return to EU-backed talks on improving relations……

The flare-up has triggered a flurry of international efforts to calm the situation.

The US and most European Union nations have recognised Kosovo's independence from Serbia while Russia and China have sided with Belgrade.

Earlier today China expressed its support for Serbia's efforts to "safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity" and Moscow has repeatedly criticised Western policies in the dispute.

Italian FM Antonio Tajani has confirmed that 11 Italian NATO soldiers have been injured in the clashes, and that 3 of them are in critical condition. Italy has over the years been one of the main contributors to KFOR and the forces have been led by a string of Italian commanders.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....77db8b4f8.jpeg

​​​​​​​2-3 NATO Convoys of roughly 20 Vehicles each were seen earlier this morning heading North towards the Mitrovica District of Kosovo and the Border with Serbia; these Convoy are reported to include German, Polish, and U.S. Soldiers from the NATO Rapid-Reaction Force which was Deployed to assist (KFOR) the Peacekeeping Force in Kosovo yesterday.

10 Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees and 56 Parliamentarians have called on the US, EU & UK to change our approach to #Kosovo and #Serbia.

We need deterrence diplomacy, where we ensure there is balance in our dealings, and we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.

It is rare for so many Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees to come together to raise concerns, and express a shared commitment to de-escalation.…

Also published in @Tagesspiegel - important to have the signatures of both the German Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee @MiRo_SPD and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs @ToniHofreiter. Thank you to you both.



https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....54ab311290.png
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c902a02f7d.png


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4266a6924b.png

Looking at a map of Europe, I would be nervous if I was a Romanian, or maybe even a Moldovan. A clear wide passage of land between Russia to the Mediterranean, unhindered by the needing to exit the Black Sea via a possibly hostile Turkey/Ottoman Empire, through Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Croatia, and Serbia for direct passage of Russian defence, trade, and shipping is something that may be part of the long-term plan. Even China, having a land link to the Mediterranean via co-operation with Russia may be part of their strategy too.

A lot of elderly Yugoslavs are sighing and pining for the good ole' days of President Tito, who ruled with an iron fist and kept the warring tribes apart. The youth with naive ideology ruling their hot blood, are quick to fight, but slow to shake hands and make up, or even live begrudgingly in the land of their fathers in peace.

Some of those grudges go back to before Roman Times. The Slavs have a fierce fighting spirit, and will hold grudges for centuries. This is but a minor conflict, but it could flare up to a far wider issue if obstinate hot heads prevail.

After Azerbaijan the next boot falls….

​​​​​​​BREAKING:

The U.S. says that there is a Serbian military build-up along the border of Kosovo which includes:

“unprecedented forward deployment of artillery, tanks and service members.”

The U.S. is now calling on Serbia to withdraw those forces.

Hide any Archdukes, especially those called Freddy.

Is this not attempting to repeat history?

NATO hast just announced that it authorized a higher troop presence in Kosovo.

Serbia’s escalation potential is considered limited. Openly crossing the border to Kosovo would only trigger a full-blown NATO response. It would be suicidal for Belgrade to make such a foolish move but it shouldn’t be fully disregarded, especially when knowing that Russia has its fingers in play.

But Serbia has means to pose a threat by utilizing terrorist tactics just as in the Banjske incident a few days ago.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...vo-2023-09-29/

BRUSSELS, Sept 29 (Reuters) - NATO has authorized additional forces for Kosovo, the military alliance said on Friday, following the worst violence in northern Kosovo in years.

A battle between police and armed Serbs holed up in a monastery turned a quiet village in northern Kosovo into a war zone earlier this week.

NATO said in a statement that it had "authorized additional forces to address the current situation" but did not immediately specify how many or from which countries.

​​​​​​​A later statement from Britain's Ministry of Defence said it had transferred command of a battalion of troops to the alliance….

​​​​​​​The 1st Infantry Battalion of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment stationed on the Island of Cyprus have reportedly begun to move into Kosovo in order to Reinforce the NATO Peacekeeping Forces already in the Country.

Additional Movements of the Serbian Armed Forces have been noted near the Kosovo Border with reports that some Units have begun to Withdraw from the “Line-of-Contact” while others including Recon Elements have moved closer to the Border.

​​​​​​​

Wh6 Russia can’t be allowed to win, if they get away with it, others will follow.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...more-territory

‘Azerbaijan is hungry for land’: Armenians fear country will seek to grab more territory

It would appear the rapid response has had the desired effect….

”The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić stated earlier today that Serbia has “No Intention” on launching a Military Operation inside of Kosovo and that the number of Troops on the Border will continue to be Reduced, with an Escalation of the Conflict being Counterproductive for Belgrade's European Aspirations”.

https://www.koha.net/en/arboretum/39...ces-to-Kosovo/

Kosovo Police Director, General Gazmend Hoxha has announced that Intelligence has been received which shows that the Serbian Armed Forces are possibly preparing to Annex a number of Areas in Northern Kosovo near the Border and that the Attack last week in the Village of Banjska is part of the Initial Staging for this Operation.

​​​​​​​He further stated that the Operation in Banjska had a number of Short and Long-Term Goals, one of which being the Establishment of an Underground Network which would be used to bring Weapons and Paramilitary Soldiers into Northern Kosovo; the Kosovo Security Force has already Discovered multiple Stockpiles of Untouched Weapons near the Village since the Attack.

In addition to the 1st Infantry Battalion of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment which has already begun to arrive in Kosovo from their Base in Cyprus; the U.K. Secretary of Defense has announced that 500-1,000 Troops from the British Army will also arrive in Kosovo over the next week in order to Reinforce the NATO Peacekeeping Force in the Country, which already includes over 400 British Soldiers.

​​​​​​​The fallout from the west failing to sufficiently support Ukraine continues.

24 hours after signing a security agreement with Russia, Serbia's Vucic announces they will invade Kosovo at a time of their choosing.

The anti-aircraft missiles delivered last year are going to make it very interesting .

Strange, it was fine when his side was doing it?
I think it's for domestic use only. Of course, same could be said about Russia, difference is that Serbia has no power to actually do it. And, again different to Russia, is surrounded by NATO countries.

Trouble brewing across the Balkans…

Wall Street Journal

https://archive.is/2024.03.19-023554...lkans-02bdcc5a

Putin Wants War in the Balkans

Russia is exploiting ethnic tensions as Serbia threatens violence against Kosovo and secessionists threaten a Bosnian collapse.

This has even less chances of happening.

Perhaps, but I recall all those scoffing at the possibility of Putin actually ordering the invasion of Ukraine…

Even Zelensky stated publicly that Russia wouldn't invade.

I remember Paddy Ashdown saying that he expected the next Balkan conflagration about 20 years after the last one in the 1990s, which was just long enough for a generation that had never experienced it to grow into adulthood and for those that had experienced it to forget the horrors. That was 30 years ago, so we're overdue.

Perhaps it will also turn out the same way?
Putin may be able to encourage, to distract NATO, but can he materially assist in a meaningful way?

It's more a distraction than anything else.
Standard of living is going down, hard. Rulling idiots need something to distract the people.
Especially in case of Bosnia. Dodik pulls secession card every year when the going gets though.
Point is, they don't have the strength to pull it off.