Zakharova recalled NATO strikes on energy facilities in Yugoslavia

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova in her Telegram channel published words of former NATO spokesman Jamie Shea on May 25, 1999, when he explained why NATO was attacking Yugoslav energy facilities.

In her message, she turned to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell.

Zakharova cited a question from a journalist who asked why, along with attacks on military facilities, NATO also deprives the country of 70% of not only electricity, but also water supply. In response, Shia explained that military installations also depend on electricity.

“Unfortunately, command and control systems also depend on electricity. If a [президент Югославии Слободан] Milosevic really wants his citizens to have water and electricity, all he has to do is accept the terms of NATO, and we will stop this campaign, ”Zakharova quoted the former NATO spokeswoman as saying.

The NATO military operation “Allied Force” against Yugoslavia went from March 24 to June 10, 1999. The reason for it was the inter-ethnic conflict between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo. In total, several thousand strikes were carried out using bombers and cruise missiles.

The day before, November 29, Stoltenberg declared about the “colossal damage” from missile strikes on Ukraine by Russia. The Secretary General of the alliance stressed that NATO intends to provide additional assistance to Kyiv. Later U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken informedthat Washington will allocate more than $53 million for the purchase of equipment for energy networks for Ukraine.

The Russian military has been attacking Ukraine’s critical infrastructure since October 10. Russian President Vladimir Putin, during an operational meeting with members of the Security Council on October 10, said that such a decision was made in response to Ukrainian attempts at terrorist attacks on Russian territory, including an explosion on the Crimean bridge. He emphasized that the reaction to such actions would be tough.

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