Pristina’s decision to replace all Serbian license plates is causing tension in northern Kosovo.

This afternoon the sirens sounded in all the cities of northern Kosovo where the Serbs are in the majority.

🇽🇰Kosovo Special Forces are currently passing through the center of Pristina in the direction of Mitrovica and the Serbian border pic.twitter.com/WQLXtrArb7

— ТРУХА⚡️English (@TpyxaNews) July 31, 2022

Two main roads leading to the administrative border with Serbia were blocked by Serbs who set up barricades by placing heavy trucks on the road.

🇽🇰Dozens of Kosovo police vehicles reportedly left Pristina for Mitrovica as part of a new convoy pic.twitter.com/SZXfVkWBBq

— ТРУХА⚡️English (@TpyxaNews) July 31, 2022

The Serbs blocked the roads after receiving information that the special forces of the Kosovo Police were heading towards the administrative border with Serbia.

Strong police forces and soldiers of the international peacekeeping force KFOR have been deployed along the Ibar River that separates the northern and southern parts of Mitrovica.

The Ministry of Defense of Serbia denies all the information spread on the Internet about an alleged invasion of the Serbian army to Kosovo.

Aleksandar Vucic’s emergency address

“We have never been in a more complicated situation than today”, Aleksandar Vucic said in an emergency address to the Serbian people. “All I can say is that we will ask for peace and we will do it, but I will assure you: there will be no surrender and Serbia will win”, the Serbian president added.

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Kosovo’s announcement

The Kosovo government announced in a press release that it has decided to postpone the replacement of all Serbian license plates and Serbian identity cards for one month, until September 1, after the Kosovo Serbs blocked the roads.

Kosovo’s decision to postpone its decision for one month came after communication with the US charge d’affaires in Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, setting two conditions: that all roadblocks be removed and that full freedom of movement be restored on all roads in northern Kosovo. At the same time, it thanks its international allies and mentions the US ambassador by name.

Russia’s announcement

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova stressed today that Russia calls on Pristina, the US and the EU to stop provocations and uphold the rights of Serbs in Kosovo. 

The NATO announcement

NATO has announced that it is monitoring the developments in the region and that the KFOR force will take whatever measures are necessary to maintain a safe and stable environment in Kosovo, in accordance with the mandate of the United Nations.