Afrim Veseli, retired colonel of the Kosovo Security Force, has raised alarms about the presence of Serbian paramilitaries fighting in Ukraine, who have reportedly declared that they plan to return to the Balkans once their operations there conclude.
The British media outlet The Telegraph also reported that these fighters are preparing for a potential large-scale conflict in the Balkans. Veseli stressed that such warnings must be taken seriously.
“Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, I have monitored several videos of Serbian paramilitaries on the frontlines, fighting against the Ukrainian people and their freedom,” Veseli said.
He added that these fighters have been actively recruiting compatriots in Serbia to join the conflict. Intelligence agencies, including NATO and the UK, reportedly have more precise information regarding these developments.
Veseli identified two potential flashpoints in the region: Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, warning of the possibility of renewed conflict.
He further noted a key difference compared to volunteers from Kosovo who joined conflicts in the Middle East:
“The involvement of these Serbian fighters in Ukraine is not without the knowledge of the Serbian state, unlike Kosovars who went to Middle Eastern conflicts independently, without state support.”
Veseli’s statements underline the continued security risks for the Western Balkans, particularly given the return of trained combatants from Ukraine.
