Ukraine

Russia Blasts Serbian Arms Firms Over Alleged Ammo Supplies to Ukraine

Published MAY 30 2025

Story

Above: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at a press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 13, 2025. Image credit: Amir Hamzagic/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Facts

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, the SVR, blasted weapons manufacturers from Slavic ally Serbia, accusing them of stabbing Russia in the back over allegations they supplied Ukraine with ammunition for small arms and artillery in a statement on Thursday.
TASS
ap
"Serbian defense companies continue to supply ammunition to Kyiv, contrary to Belgrade's declared neutrality," the statement read. It alleged that deliveries were achieved by faking end-user certificates to route weapons through Poland, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria, as well as some unidentified African countries.
TASS
RT
ap
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić denied the allegations. He said that his government would step in to block arms deals if it was suspected they would end up in Ukraine, adding that a joint fact-finding group would be established.
TASS
Ukrainian National News (UNN)
Nonetheless, Vučić said Serbia's defense industry played a key role in the country's economy and that it must be able to continue exporting arms to third countries. "If we cannot export to America, Turkey, Arab countries, then [...] where can we export weapons?" he said.
Meduza
Dagens.com
The denial contradicts what Vučić told Financial Times journalists last year. In a report alleging that upwards of $800 million worth of munitions had ended up in Ukraine, the Serbian leader said it was not his job to police where arms went after they were legally sold to third countries.
www.ft.com
The Kyiv Independent
Balkan Insight
Reports suggesting that Serbian arms ended up in Ukraine first emerged in 2023, after a leaked Pentagon document assessing the stance of 38 European countries on arms shipments to the war-torn country said Serbia had agreed to supply arms to Kyiv or had sent them already.
Reuters
guardian

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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The Spin

Narrative A

The fact that Serbian ammunition ended up in Ukraine, where it was used to kill and maim Slavic brothers, is a stab in Russia's back. It seems that Serbian defense contractors have no issues profiting from the blood of Russian soldiers; clearly they are forgetting their allies and ignoring their real enemies.

TASS

Narrative B

These allegations are simply untrue. Nonetheless, the Serbian government recognizes its existing relationship with Moscow, and will crack down on arms deals if it is suspected they will end up in Ukraine. It has also agreed to launch a joint task force with Russia to investigate these allegations, and get to the truth of the situation.

Dagens.com