An explosion at a canal supplying water to two coal power plants in Kosovo has sparked accusations of sabotage, with Prime Minister Albin Kurti blaming Serbian gangs for the incident. While no injuries were reported, the explosion raised concerns about regional stability. Kosovo’s authorities are conducting investigations, and heightened security measures are being implemented following related violence. The ongoing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, stemming from Kosovo’s independence declaration, continue to complicate the situation.
Explosion at Kosovo’s Coal Power Plant Canal
An explosion damaged a canal that supplies water to two coal power plants in Kosovo on Friday evening. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries, and the cause of the explosion remains unknown. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti labeled the incident as a “criminal and terrorist attack” aimed at sabotaging critical infrastructure. He accused Serbian gangs of orchestrating the attack, although he did not provide any evidence to support his claims.
Reactions and Accusations from Kosovo and Serbia
The EU ambassador to Kosovo, Aivo Orav, condemned the explosion, highlighting the serious implications for regional stability. The Srpska Lista party, representing Kosovo’s ethnic Serbs, also denounced the damage to the canal and called for a thorough investigation led by NATO’s peacekeeping force, KFOR, and the EU’s rule of law mission, EULEX.
Prime Minister Kurti made grave accusations against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, asserting that he backs the criminal elements responsible for the attack. Kurti suggested that there is a clear “interest, willingness, and capability” from Serbia to conduct such attacks, evidenced by the use of substantial explosives in this incident.
Additionally, Kurti referenced Milan Radoicic, a Kosovo-Serbian businessman implicated in a violent confrontation between a Serbian commando unit and Kosovo police in September 2023. Radoicic fled to Serbia and has yet to face legal consequences for his actions.
In response, Serbian President Vucic dismissed the allegations as “unfounded, premature, and baseless,” emphasizing that such claims are irresponsible and jeopardize peace in the region. He called for an impartial investigation involving international stakeholders.
In the aftermath of the explosion, Kosovo’s police conducted extensive raids in Zubin Potok, near the site of the blast, and increased security in Zvecan following grenade attacks on a police station and a municipal building. Local media captured images of the damaged canal and a significant police presence at the scene. Faruk Mujka, the head of the water authority, confirmed that an explosive device was thrown into the canal, damaging a bridge’s wall. Increased security measures were announced after recent grenade attacks in the predominantly ethnic Serbian northern region, though the connection between these incidents remains unclear.
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, characterized the attack as reminiscent of Russian tactics used against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. She warned that Serbia has demonstrated its willingness to engage in aggressive actions, referencing a failed paramilitary invasion in September 2023 and the heightened alert status of the Serbian army, closely linked to Moscow.
Gërvalla-Schwarz cautioned against underestimating Russia’s influence and the escalating risk of conflict in the Balkans, criticizing Western partners for their insufficient response to the potential for renewed war in Europe.
The ongoing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia stem from Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008, which Serbia and its minority population in Kosovo do not acknowledge. While over 90 percent of Kosovo’s population is ethnically Albanian, the northern region is predominantly Serbian. Frequent raids and clashes heighten tensions between the two nations as both seek integration into the European Union.