the SVR issued a statement on Wednesday, asserting that Serbian defense companies are
utilizing deceptive practices to send artillery shells, rockets, and small arms ammunition
to Ukraine.

The statement, titled “The Serbian Defense Industry Is Trying to Shoot Russia in the
Back,” was published on the agency’s website. It claims that these actions violate
Belgrade’s declared neutrality.

According to the SVR,Serbian firms are using “fake end-user certificates” to reroute
weapons through various NATO countries,including Poland,the Czech Republic,and
Bulgaria,as well as unspecified African nations. The agency alleges that these weapons
are ultimately appearing in Ukraine.

The SVR estimates that approximately 100,000 rockets and howitzer shells, along with one
million small arms rounds, have been transferred through this scheme.The agency further
implicates major Serbian weapons manufacturers, including the state-owned
Yugoimport-SDPR, in the alleged operation.

The SVR’s statement reads: “It truly seems that the desire of Serbian defense firms and their
backers to profit from the bloodshed between brotherly slavic nations has made them forget
who their true friends are – and who their enemies are.”

Vucic Responds to Allegations

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic addressed the allegations, stating that he had
discussed ammunition exports with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in
Moscow in May. He told the broadcaster RTS, “we have formed a working group with our
Russian partners to establish the facts.”

“Some of the statements that have been made are not true.”

Vucic disputed some of the SVR’s claims, stating, “For example, they claim there is a
contract with the Czech Republic. Though, no permit has been issued, and no missiles have
been delivered.”

He added that he would issue a warning that any suspicion of abuse of end-user policies,
specifically the sending of ammunition to warzones, should be immediately reported. Vucic
emphasized that Serbia maintains “good relations” with both Russia and Ukraine.

Vucic has stated that he has resisted Western pressure to impose sanctions on Moscow and
involve his country in the conflict, citing the close historical and cultural ties between
Russia and Serbia.