Serbian intelligence reportedly tested high-powered sonic weapons on dogs in cooperation with Russia’s FSB, according to government documents reviewed by Politico and reported by Index.hr. The experiments allegedly took place two weeks after large anti-government protests in Belgrade, during which demonstrators described being affected by intense sonic blasts.
The documents suggest that the Serbian administration under President Aleksandar Vučić conducted tests using so-called “sonic cannons” (LRAD devices) to assess the potential effects of these weapons. The tests were reportedly conducted on a group of dogs, chosen for their high sensitivity to acoustic effects, on BIA training grounds. Devices tested included LRAD 100X MAG-HS and LRAD 450XL, capable of producing sound up to 150 decibels, comparable to a jet engine during takeoff.
The experiments allegedly aimed to determine whether the symptoms reported by protesters—nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches—were consistent with the effects of LRADs. The documents, however, raise concerns about the legality of the animal testing, noting that the Ministry of Agriculture was never asked for approval, and Serbian law prohibits animal experiments for testing military equipment.
Opposition figures criticized the tests as part of a cover-up campaign by Vučić’s administration to justify the use of sonic weapons against citizens during the March 2025 protests, when tens of thousands of Serbians took to the streets.
An FSB report cited in the documents claimed that the dogs did not exhibit behavioral changes during the tests and were checked three days afterward.
LRADs are typically used for long-distance communication, but at short distances they can cause temporary hearing damage, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Serbian authorities have previously denied using sonic weapons on protesters.
