Kosovo accuses Serbia of provoking tensions near border; Serbian ministry responds

Kurti posted photos on Facebook showing a military vehicle and several individuals in military uniforms, along with the coordinates.

Kurti described this as a "provocative movement by the Serbian Army aimed at inciting tensions" and noted that Kosovo security institutions had observed these soldiers, as reported by KoSSev.

"When they realized we had spotted them, they quickly fled and returned to their territory," Kurti added.

He emphasized that his government had made "unprecedented investments in building and enhancing the capacity of intelligence, security, and defense structures," which are ready to prevent "any threat to the territorial integrity and sovereignty" of Kosovo.

"The synergy between security and defense structures, as well as cooperation with regional and international partners and allies, is a guarantee of security in Kosovo," Kurti said.

He also claimed that Serbia "continues to escalate tensions through hybrid actions, aiming to destabilize the region, although the space for these maneuvers is shrinking day by day."

"Kosovo remains unwavering on its path towards Euro-Atlantic integration, with its institutions vigilant 24/7, protecting the country and ensuring maximum monitoring of the situation," concluded Kurti.

The Serbian Ministry of Defense responded to Kurti's claims, calling them part of a disinformation campaign against the Serbian Army and security forces. The Ministry also noted that Serbian security bodies had intercepted illegal smuggling of felled timber on Saturday.

The statement clarified that the social media post shows members of the Serbian Army in the Ground Safety Zone conducting routine tasks of securing the administrative line and controlling the area, in accordance with the Military-Technical Agreement and other signed agreements.

"The so-called security forces that Kurti mentions are, in fact, smugglers of illegally felled timber from central Serbia, which has become a lucrative illegal business," the Ministry pointed out.

It added that the security bodies had intercepted the illegal transfer of timber to Kosovo, during which the smugglers fled to Kosovo, and the equipment they used was handed over to the police.

The Ministry stated that spreading falsehoods and disinformation is part of a broader campaign by Pristina aimed at raising tensions, misleading the public, creating unbearable conditions for Serbs in Kosovo, and avoiding internationally accepted obligations.

The Ministry emphasized that Kosovo Police or security forces have no role in securing the administrative line, as UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Military-Technical Agreement do not recognize any entities other than international civilian and security presence in Kosovo and Serbian security forces.

The Army, through timely preparations, proper organization, and tactical actions, secures the administrative line, controls illegal crossings, extremist activities, and organized crime, including illegal logging, and will continue to be a factor of peace and stability, the statement said.