Russia alleges Serbian betrayal over weapons shipments to Ukraine, with Kremlin claiming Serbia is making money from the Slavic conflict.

Serbia and Russia have agreed to jointly probe allegations that Serbian-produced arms were shipped to Ukraine, following Moscow's accusations of betrayal over reports of Serbian ammunition reaching Kyiv.

The Russian foreign intelligence agency (SVR) labelled the alleged transfers as a "stab in the back," accusing Serbia's defense industry of channeling weapons to Ukraine through countries allied with NATO, such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria, and unnamed African nations. In a statement released Thursday, SVR asserted that these arms were designed to "kill and maim Russian military personnel and the civilian population."

According to the Russian statement, the actions of Serbian defense workers profiting from the conflict between Slavic peoples have made them forget their true allies and enemies.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed that a working group had been established in collaboration with Russian officials to investigate the claims, but he refuted some of the accusations. Speaking to state broadcaster RTS, Vucic stated that some of the claims were untrue and that he had discussed the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow earlier this month.

Serbia has tried to navigate a delicate balance between its traditional alliance with Russia and its aspirations to join the European Union. While Serbia has publicly denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations, it has resisted pressure to adopt Western sanctions.

A leaked Pentagon document from 2023 suggested that Serbia had agreed to supply arms to Ukraine despite maintaining a stance of military neutrality. According to a report by The Financial Times in June 2024, Serbia has exported approximately 800 million euros ($908-909 million) worth of ammunition to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, with these exports reaching Ukraine through intermediary countries, including the United States, Spain, the Czech Republic, and others. Serbian President Vučić acknowledged the scale of exports but insisted they were legal and facilitated through these intermediaries, arguing that it was not his responsibility to track where the ammunition ultimately ended up.

Although Moscow remains Serbia's primary gas supplier and controls its only oil refinery, Vucic has also had multiple meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Breaking news: The intensifying war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, with thelatest accusations from Moscow's foreign intelligence agency, has led to a joint investigation with Serbia, followingclaims that Serbian-produced arms were shipped to Ukraine. Amidst the politics shaping general-news,Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has refused some of the accustoins, disputing certain claims and reiterating Serbia's delicate balancing act between its traditional alliance with Russia and aspirations toward European Union membership.

Russia alleges Serbian betrayal over weapons shipments to Ukraine, with Kremlin claiming Serbia is making money from the Slavic conflict.