NATO Council authorizes deployment of additional KFOR forces in Kosovo

The Council of the North Atlantic Military Alliance allowed the NATO Forces for Kosovo (KFOR) to introduce additional units into the territory of the unrecognized republic. The Alliance explained this measure by the desire to stabilize the situation in the region, reported press service of the NATO North Atlantic Council.

“Since May, we have increased the presence of KFOR forces. Yesterday the North Atlantic Council authorized [использование] additional forces to respond to the current situation,” the NATO statement clarifies.

The aggravation of the situation in Kosovo began on September 24 due to an armed clash in the territory of the Zvecan municipality. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, in an unscheduled address to the nation, announced the deaths of ethnic Serbs during the conflict. According to him, two of them were killed with a sniper weapon.

Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova statedthat the armed clash in Zvecan could provoke a resumption of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. The situation in the Kremlin named tense and potentially dangerous.