Challenging for KFOR was the confrontation with Russian troops, who had occupied Pristina airport before the arrival of NATO forces in Kosovo in June 1999. The Russians, without prior coordination with NATO, entered Kosovo from Bosnia and Herzegovina, their goal was to take an area under their responsibility the mission failed after an agreement between NATO and the Russians. Russian military contingent became part of the KFOR mission, as there was no other option or to withdraw. Although the Russian military presence in Kosovo did not last long, the Russian contingent withdrew from the KFOR Mission in mid-2003, but Russia’s tendencies to get involved in the Kosovo issue have never ceased.
Russia indirectly participated in the war against Kosovo, during the battles along the border with Albania. The KLA stated that a captain carrying the Russian badge on its arm was killed and also published identification documents. While Russia denied its involvement in the Kosovo war.
After the war, with the peacekeeping mission, Russia sent members of the intelligence to Kosovo. In September 2001, after a fight in one of the night bars, two Russian soldiers of the peacekeeping mission were injured, afterwards it was discovered that one of the injured was member of the Russian military intelligence service GRU, Aleksey Kondratyev, who later, in 2019, ran to be elected rapporteur for Kosovo in the Council of Europe.
The attempt by Russian intelligence services to cause unrest in Kosovo is very common. In May 2019, during a Kosovo Police operation against smuggling and corruption in North Mitrovica, a Russian official in the guise of UNMIK, used an official UNMIK vehicle to barricade the road in order to prevent Kosovo Police from entering the zone. Mikhail Krasnochenko was arrested and then deported from Kosovo. He was accused of carrying out espionage activities in Kosovo under the auspices of UNMIK.
Russia’s attempts to implicate militarily in the Western Balkans through Serbia, mainly in Kosovo, are long-standing. In recent years, Russia has intensified the militarization of Serbia and Republika Srpska, offering numerous military equipment and vehicles as a donation, and has built so-called base of the Russian Ministry of Civil Emergencies in Nis. Serbian army has no aspirations to join NATO, it continues to rely on Russia, thus blocking the membership of other countries in NATO. Russian Embassy lately reacted to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s aspirations to join NATO, considering it as a hostile act. B&H has expressed its interest in joining NATO, but this process is hampered by the pro-Russian representative of the B&H Serbs, Milorad Dodik.
Russia’s approach to the Western Balkans “divide and rule” is preceded by disinformation, a weapon the latter uses whenever it finds a small gap. Russia mostly uses Serbia and Republika Srpska as a ground for disinformation in WB, while the latter follows Belgrade’s policy in relation to Russia.
The practice of humanitarian aid during the COVID 19 pandemic, for political purposes in Republika Srpska, the countless aid to Serbia, the re-militarization of Serbia by Russia, all pose a threat to security in Balkans. In the service eternal ally, the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Ivica Dacic, demanded the construction of the Russian military base in Balkans alluding that it will contribute to security in the region. Dacic’s request came after rumors in Serbia for possibility of building Croatian Military camp in Kosovo. Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the news for building of a Croatian Military camp in Kosovo as hysterical speculation by the Republic of Serbia against Croatia.
Russia’s attempts to engage militarily in the Western Balkans, through their right-hand ally Serbia, are in response to the ‘Bondsteel’ military base in Kosovo. The United States is often accused by Russia and Serbia of privatizing the Bondsteel military base in Kosovo, operating within NATO, accusing that is training Kosovo Albanians for active combat.
Russia, through Serbia, is steadily increasing its rhetoric against the US and the EU. Currently Serbia remains the largest military force in the Western Balkans, followed by Albania. Although it has made EU integration a strategic goal, relations with Russia and China remain a foreign policy priority for Serbia, this is also due to the fact that two countries do not recognize the Independence of Kosovo, and also help Serbia in undermine other recognitions of Kosovo so far. Delaying the dialogue process with Kosovo is intentional because it is not Serbia’s goal to integrate into the EU and join NATO. Although Serbia has made it clear that it has no interest in joining NATO. Maintaining good relations on both sides, by exploitation EU funds and deepening friendship with Russia and China, Serbia is creating a comfort zone to expand Russian influence in Balkans.
Read also: Russian influence in the Western Balkans
Serbia’s egotistical actions are opposing to the EU policies and will hamper dialogue with Kosovo, consequently peace and stability in the region. While Serbia`s relationship with Kosovo is still unclear, Russia will use every opportunity to extend its influence in the Western Balkans.
