Russia Accuses Serbian Defense Industry of Secretly Arming Ukraine
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has publicly accused Serbia’s military-industrial complex of covertly supplying ammunition to Ukraine, in what it describes as a betrayal of historical ties and an escalation of Serbia’s involvement in the war.
The SVR outlined a scheme allegedly used by Serbian defense enterprises to funnel military supplies to Kyiv, while formally maintaining a position of neutrality. According to the Russian agency, the operation is masked using fake end-user certificates and routed through intermediary nations, primarily NATO members such as the Czech Republic, Poland, and Bulgaria, as well as several African countries.
“Behind the façade of neutrality lies an open contribution to the war unleashed by the West,” the SVR claimed.
But beyond the accusations lies a deeper story: Moscow’s growing outrage reveals more about its crumbling influence in the Balkans than it does about Serbia’s arms exports.
Ammunition Shipments
The intelligence report alleges that the Serbian defense sector has delivered hundreds of thousands of shells for multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and howitzers and over a million rounds of small arms ammunition.
These supplies, Russia claims, have directly supported Ukraine’s military efforts against Russian forces. Among the firms named in the SVR’s report are major Serbian manufacturers including Yugoimport SDPR, Krusik, Sloboda, Prvi Partizan, and others
Moscow’s fury, however, isn’t just about ammunition. It’s about control.
For years, the Kremlin has tried to dominate Serbia’s political direction, supporting pro-Russian figures in Belgrade and attempting to install a puppet regime loyal to its interests. But this latest development shows that Serbia is not dancing to Moscow’s tune—and that even the so-called puppets may be slipping the strings.
Despite Serbia’s official stance of “neutrality,” Belgrade has repeatedly emphasized its sovereign right to engage in defense trade. President Aleksandar Vučić has acknowledged that Serbian-made ammunition may have reached Ukraine via intermediaries, but insists Serbia is not beholden to any foreign power.
Russia Can’t Dictate Serbia’s Future
The Kremlin’s indignation over Serbian exports highlights a painful truth for Moscow: Russia can no longer dictate the policy of sovereign nations, even those it once counted as allies.
By accusing Serbia of betrayal and painting its actions as “a shot in the back,” Russia is not just reacting to weapons shipments—it is mourning the erosion of its ability to bully smaller nations into obedience. Its attempt to frame Serbia’s independent policy decisions as hostile actions underscores the Kremlin’s outdated, imperial mindset.
But Serbia’s choices speak louder: A sovereign state cannot be managed by a foreign intelligence agency, and Belgrade will not serve as a satellite for Moscow’s ambitions.
