EU and Russian Forces Deploy to Combat Balkan Wildfires
EU crews and a Russian aircraft help Serbia fight major wildfires as extreme heat and drought fuel fires across the Balkans.
Published On 24 Aug 2026
Helicopters and firefighters from European Union countries, including teams from the Czech Republic and Romania, are collaborating closely with Serbian authorities to contain a major wildfire that has burned for weeks in Deliblatska Pescara, a protected nature reserve near Belgrade, according to state media.
The operation continued into Monday as Serbian television reported that a separate blaze in the southwestern Stolovi mountain range had been brought under control, with assistance from a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 water‑bombing aircraft.
The effort involved 168 personnel deployed daily to manage the crises.
In his statement to the press, Serbia’s interior minister, Ivica Dacic, called the situation “extremely difficult,” emphasizing the need for sustained support.
President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed that Belgrade had sought assistance from Russia and the European Civil Protection Mechanism after realizing its national resources were insufficient. He noted, “As soon as we recognized our forces could no longer cope, we promptly requested urgent help from Russia and the European mechanism.”
Serbia, though not an EU member, accesses disaster relief through its role under the bloc’s Civil Protection framework, which enables EU states to mobilize emergency assets. Official requests for aid were formalized on Friday.
The EU contribution includes four Black Hawk helicopters contributed by Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, plus firefighter teams and specialized equipment from Germany and Romania.
Several aircraft were already engaged during the weekend, with the remaining deployments—including a German ground team—expected to arrive by Monday.
This demonstrates the mutual nature of the European response: Serbia recently dispatched a firefighting helicopter and rescue team to Spain amid persistent wildfire threats across the basin.
Additionally, fires are raging along the borders in North Macedonia, where incidents near Strumica have resulted in residential damage.
“It was consuming everything,” said local farmer Ljubce Ivanski, describing how strong winds hampered firefighting efforts.
The current wildfire season across the Balkans has been fueled by an anomalously hot and dripping summer, leaving vast territories highly flammable.
Cross‑border flames also erupted near the Bosnian‑Croatian frontier, closing the highway between Trebinje and the tourist destination Dubrovnik and forcing evacuations of neighboring villages.
Croatian responders swiftly moved to assist in containing that crossing‑border blaze, which has spread across roughly 16 kilometres of challenging terrain.**
