Serbia probes arms to Ukraine after Russia alleges ‘stab in the back’

Serbia and Russia have come to an agreement to jointly investigate allegations that Serbian-made weapons were given to Ukraine after Belgrade was accused of lying about reports that Serbian-made ammunition had reached Kyiv.

Serbia’s defense sector is accused of passing weapons to Ukraine through NATO-linked nations like the Czech Republic, Poland, and Bulgaria, as well as unnamed African states, according to Russian foreign intelligence agency SVR, which described the alleged transfers as “stab in the back.”

In a statement released on Thursday, SVR stated that “they have one clear goal: to kill and maim Russian military personnel and the civilian population.”

According to the Russian statement, “It seems that the employees of the Serbian defense industry and their patrons have completely forgotten who their real friends are and who their enemies are because of the desire of fraternal Slavic peoples,” the statement said.

Joint investigation

Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, confirmed that a working group with Russian officials had been established to verify the allegations, but he refuted some of them.

Vucic told the state broadcaster RTS that “some of the things that have been said are untrue,” adding that he had spoken with Vladimir Putin about the situation during a trip to Moscow earlier this month.

Belgrade’s tradition of cooperating with Russia and its desire to acclimate to the European Union continues to be a tiger’s foot. Serbia has resisted joining Western sanctions despite condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the UN.

Serbia agreed to provide arms to Ukraine, despite the country’s official declaration of military neutrality, according to a Pentagon document that was leaked in 2023.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Serbia has exported at least $908 million worth of ammunition to Ukraine, according to The Financial Times in 2024.

Serbia’s weapons sector produces weapons that are both compatible with those used by Ukrainian and Russian forces and is heavily influenced by Soviet designs.