Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti commemorated today the attack on the Ibër-Lepenc canal, which occurred one year ago. Kurti stated that an explosive attack had severely damaged the terminal section and one arch of the canal’s aqueduct, posing a risk of a major crisis in Kosovo.
According to Kurti, the attack is reminiscent of the Russian strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, and he suggested that official Belgrade is behind such actions targeting Kosovo.
Full Statement from Kurti:
“One year ago today, around 19:00, the Ibër-Lepenc aqueduct in Varagë, Zubin Potok Municipality, was the target of a kinetic terrorist attack. This was the second major attack against our Republic by external actors in two consecutive years, following the paramilitary attack in Banjskë, Zvečan, and the first targeting our critical infrastructure.
The explosion severely damaged the terminal section and one arch of the aqueduct, seriously threatening the water supply for all consumers served by this system, including the Kosova B Power Plant.
Institutional response was immediate and crucial in preventing the catastrophic consequences intended by the attack: a 60% reduction in electricity production capacity, interruptions in water supply to the municipalities of Mitrovica, Skenderaj, Drenas, Vushtrri, Fushë Kosovë, and half of Pristina, disruption of central heating services in the capital, and halving of telecommunications capacity due to power shortages at base stations.
Thanks to the professional and successful actions of public enterprises and state institutions, water flow for power plant cooling and energy production was maintained, as was the supply of drinking water to affected communities.
In record time—just one month—the damaged aqueduct was rebuilt, and the water system restored to full operational capacity. Our response demonstrated the high responsiveness of state institutions and public enterprises.
The state and the Republic triumphed once again over extremist and terrorist groups whose support and financing come from official Belgrade, and whose methods and inspiration come from Russia—the attack on the Ibër-Lepenc critical infrastructure closely resembles Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy network.
Following raids in northern Kosovo related to this attack, we confiscated weapons, uniforms, and equipment, along with Russian and Serbian emblems linked to intelligence, military, and security structures. These remain clear evidence of the involvement of Serbo-Russian extremist and terrorist groups, with strong ties to Serbia, whose goal is to destabilize Kosovo and create an unsafe regional environment.”
