No Remorse in Belgrade for Kosovo War Crimes – Only NATO’s “Aggression” Remembered

Exactly 26 years ago, NATO launched an air campaign against Belgrade to prevent ethnic cleansing and war crimes in Kosovo committed by forces under Slobodan Milošević.

More than two decades later, Serbian officials continue to reject the reality of the atrocities committed in Kosovo, instead marking the NATO intervention as an “aggression” against a sovereign state—without acknowledging the crimes that prompted the military response.

Serbia’s Narrative: Victimhood Without Accountability

On Monday, Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Marko Đurić, commemorated the NATO bombing in a statement on X, claiming that “around 2,500 people were killed, including many children.” However, it made no mention of the more than 13,500 Kosovo Albanians killed or disappeared during the war.

Serbia’s official statement portrayed NATO’s 78-day campaign as an illegal assault that violated international law and sovereignty, blaming it for civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and bridges.

Ignoring the Cause: The Crimes of Milošević’s Regime

Despite overwhelming evidence of war crimes, mass killings, and forced expulsions of Kosovo Albanians, Serbia refuses to acknowledge its past actions. While NATO’s intervention was controversial, it was triggered by documented massacres and ethnic cleansing campaigns carried out by the Yugoslav Army, Serbian police, and paramilitary groups.

Serbia continues to frame itself as a victim, stating that it now stands for “international law and true multilateralism.” However, the lack of recognition or remorse for the war crimes committed in Kosovo remains a key obstacle to reconciliation in the region.

As Serbia marks another anniversary of the NATO intervention, the victims of Kosovo’s war crimes continue to await justice, while Belgrade’s denial of history persists.