Russia has accused Serbia of betraying its neutrality by covertly supplying ammunition to Ukraine, calling it a “stab in the back” from a traditional Slavic ally.

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) released a statement on Thursday alleging that Serbian arms have been reaching Ukrainian forces through intermediaries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria, and even “exotic” African states. The accusation particularly targets Serbian defense companies for fueling the Ukrainian war effort, despite Serbia’s declared neutral stance.

SVR emphasized that “the contribution of Serbian defense industry workers” included hundreds of thousands of shells and a million rounds of small arms ammunition, which it claimed could not be justified as humanitarian support. It further criticized Serbian officials for allegedly profiting from a conflict that pits “fraternal Slavic peoples” against each other.

Belgrade Responds with Diplomacy

In response, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told RTS state television that he had recently discussed the matter directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders agreed to form a joint “working group” to investigate how Serbian-made weapons were appearing on the frontlines.

While Serbia had previously denied exporting arms to Ukraine—most recently in March 2025—Vucic acknowledged ongoing scrutiny and repeated that Serbia’s foreign policy aims to balance between East and West.

Dual Loyalty: EU Aspirations and Russian Ties

Despite aspirations to join the European Union, Serbia has maintained close ties with Russia, refusing to impose Western sanctions after Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Vucic recently attended Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9, sparking criticism from EU officials who deemed his appearance alongside Putin inappropriate.

Vucic has defended his decision, citing efforts to preserve Serbia’s “traditional friendships” while pursuing EU accession, a stance that reflects his strategy of maintaining autonomy between conflicting global powers.