The Kosovo Police has announced that it seized weapons, ammunition, military clothing and other materials during two operations carried out in the north of the country.

According to the Regional Police Directorate in North Mitrovica, the searches were conducted on September 27, following information that weapons or illegal devices might be stored in the village of Dren in Leposaviq and in Shipovë in Zubin Potok.

In Dren, the searches focused on a building used as a stable. A M-56 repeating rifle, a 9 mm CZ-99 pistol and a 7.65 mm CZ Mod-70 pistol were discovered there and taken as evidence.

During the same operation, 99 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 30 rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 10 rounds of 7.65 mm ammunition were also found.

S.V., born in 1971, was detained in connection with the case. He was questioned at the police station in Leposaviq in the presence of his defense attorney, while the state prosecutor ordered that he be held for 48 hours.

The second operation was conducted at an uninhabited house in the village of Shipovë in Zubin Potok. At the location, police officers found an AK-47 automatic rifle, six magazines and 157 rounds of the corresponding caliber.

The police also seized an M-48 hunting rifle, along with 186 rounds for a long gun, a bayonet, military uniforms bearing Serbian insignia, two military bags and military food equipment.

At this stage, no one has been arrested in connection with the incident in Shipovë.

In both cases, by order of the state prosecutor, an investigation was opened on suspicion of the criminal offense of “Unauthorized possession, control or ownership of weapons.”

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Vetëvendosje MP Nezir Kraki reacted after nine people were detained in northern Kosovo on suspicion of committing war crimes against civilians.

According to Kraki, the arrests are linked to a process he has spoken about for years and describes as the “second liberation of Kosovo,” referring to the establishment of Kosovo’s institutions in the northern part of the country as well.

In his reaction, he said that this is precisely why he has repeatedly written and spoken about the liberation of the north. Kraki added that over the years, opponents and beneficiaries of the situation have misinterpreted this position, sometimes for euros and sometimes for dinars, but not in Kosovo’s name.

He stressed that the north is now part of Kosovo and that Kosovo is a serious state, declaring that the area is no longer a refuge for gangs and war criminals.

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Nine people suspected of the criminal offense of “war crimes against the civilian population” have been arrested in Zubin Potok.

According to a statement from the Special Prosecution Office, the arrests were carried out during the operation codenamed “File 23”, conducted by the Kosovo Police, specifically its Directorate for the Investigation of War Crimes, with the support of other specialized units.

The operation was carried out with the authorization of the Special Prosecution Office and is linked to the case known as the “Group of Intellectuals”.

Following these arrests in Zubin Potok, former LDK member of parliament Adem Salihaj issued a strong reaction regarding those suspected of “war crimes against the civilian population”.

Salihaj positively assessed the Kosovo Police operation in the north, stressing that the area is now fully under the authority of Kosovo’s institutions.

“It is no longer no man’s land; the north is Kosovo’s land.

Enough is enough. There is no more amnesty or release for the criminals who carried out massacres against Kosovo’s defenseless population.

We must praise the Kosovo Police. Bravo for the operations and the excellent work it is carrying out in this part of Kosovo,” he said.

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A Kosovo Special Prosecutor’s Office and Kosovo Police operation was carried out in the early hours of the morning in northern Kosovo as part of a war crimes investigation.

According to the Special Prosecutor’s Office, nine people suspected of the criminal offense of “War crimes against the civilian population” were arrested in Zubin Potok.

The operation, codenamed “File 23,” was launched on the order of the Special Prosecutor’s Office by the Directorate for the Investigation of War Crimes, in cooperation with other specialized Kosovo Police units.

The operation is linked to the case known as the “Group of Intellectuals” and to the investigation following the discovery of mass graves in Zubin Potok.

During the operation, searches were also conducted at several locations to find and seize materials and evidence suspected of being directly connected to the case.

Initial reports from sources said arrests were expected, but the number of people to be detained and the exact addresses where the operation was taking place were not known.

Further details about the operation and the actions taken have not yet been made public. The Kosovo Police and the Special Prosecutor’s Office said they would inform the public as soon as it was possible to release information.

The operation is still underway, while Klankosova.tv is awaiting further responses from the Special Prosecutor’s Office and security institutions.

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In Banjska, Zveçan, the cornerstone of an obelisk dedicated to the Hero of Kosovo, Afrim Bunjaku, was laid.

This took place on the third anniversary of the fall of the Kosovo Police sergeant during the Serbian terrorist attack.

Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla stated that the state emerged victorious against the Serbian terrorists thanks to the sacrifice of Afrim Bunjaku and the tireless commitment of hundreds of other police officers.

He emphasized that the terrorists, supported and financed by Serbia, had the sole aim of occupying a part of Kosovo’s territory.

In his statement to the media, Sveçla said that this victory brought freedom to this area and that the north of Kosovo now breathes freely; as a result, mass graves were also discovered and missing persons, violently disappeared by the criminals of that time and by the criminal Serbian state of that period, were identified.

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Veton Elshani, deputy director of the Kosovo Police for northern Mitrovica, said that the security situation in this part of the country remains calm and stable.

He said that the Kosovo Police had drafted an operational plan, which is part of the operational order being implemented throughout the country. As part of measures to prevent any tensions, the police have also communicated with the mayors of the four municipalities in the north.

According to Elshani, the need to avoid provocations, celebrations or any other action that could be perceived as a threat to security in the north was discussed with the municipal leaders.

“The security situation in the north is calm and stable. However, in light of recent events, we have put into effect an operational plan as part of the operational order for the entire Kosovo Police. For several days, we have been in contact with the mayors of the four northern municipalities and have discussed with them the importance of avoiding provocations, celebrations or other actions that could be seen as provocative. So far, this is being respected and there have been no particular developments to highlight,” Elshani said.

The deputy director of the Kosovo Police added that the situation was being managed and that the authorities had not recorded any particular incidents so far.

The Kosovo Police will continue monitoring the situation and implementing the operational plan, with the aim of maintaining order and security in the north of the country.

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In the municipality of Zvečan, in northern Kosovo, messages glorifying convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić have been spotted.

Images published in Serbian groups on the Telegram platform show a mural featuring his portrait, accompanied by the inscriptions “Zvečan forever grateful” and “May your mother be thanked.”

Another piece of graffiti is dedicated to Mladić, referring to him by the title “general.” The photographs were posted on Telegram with the call “Save Kosovo,” while one of the posts clearly identifies Zvečan as the location.

“General, the final salute. A message to the terrorists: we are all Ratko’s soldiers,” read one of the posts.

Ratko Mladić, the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, was sentenced to life imprisonment by international courts for the genocide in Srebrenica, as well as crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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At the first hearing in the trial over the erection of barricades in Zvečan in 2022, the Pristina Basic Court severed the proceedings against Miloš Radosavljević and Dušan Dobrac after they reached an agreement with the Special Prosecution to plead guilty to the charges.

Before the hearing began, it was announced that defendant Nenad Orlović was not present, while Srđan Vučinić’s lawyer, Bogdan Lazić, was also absent.

In this case, Dušan Maksimović, Miloš Radosavljević, Nemanja Jolović, Dušan Dobrac, Srđan Vučinić and Nenad Orlović face charges of crimes against the constitutional order, specifically for obstructing traffic on roads in Zvečan in December two years ago.

Judge Rrahman Beqiri noted that Orlović was absent and that the court had reissued the arrest warrant against him. According to a police report dated August 27, 2026, law enforcement officers had gone to execute the warrant but did not find him at home, while local residents said he lives in Serbia.

Lawyer Petrović was also absent. His client, Jolović, explained that they had spoken by phone and that Petrović had informed him he had been involved in a traffic accident.

Meanwhile, Lazić, who represents Vučinić, informed the court by email that he could not appear for health reasons.

Those present in the courtroom included Special Prosecutor Admir Shala; defendant Maksimović and his defense lawyer, Miloš Nikolić; defendant Miloš Radosavljević and his lawyer, Mahmut Halimi; defendant Dušan Dobrac and his lawyer, Boban Petković; as well as defendants Srđan Vučinić and Nemanja Jolović. Orlović was represented by lawyer Donjeta Leka.

The indictment, obtained by “Betimi për Drejtësi,” states in its first count that the three defendants, Maksimović, Radosavljević and Jolović, acting jointly from December 10 to 29, 2022, participated as members of a group that sought to attack the constitutional order through force and violence.

According to the prosecution, the aim was to prevent Kosovo’s institutions and the Kosovo Police from restoring state authority and carrying out their duties in the north. They allegedly erected barricades on the main artery using trucks loaded with aggregate, excavators, ambulances and other vehicles, while also setting up fortifications nearby. They were also said to have been prepared to attack police forces if they intervened.

For these actions, they are charged with “Association for anti-constitutional activities with the aim of attacking the constitutional order of the Republic of Kosovo,” an offense provided for under Article 127, paragraph 2, in conjunction with Article 114, paragraph 2, and Article 31 of the Criminal Code.

The second count of the indictment concerns Dušan Dobrac, who is accused of joining the group during the same period in Zvečan to use violence against the constitutional order by preventing institutions and the police from exercising authority and carrying out official duties in the northern municipalities.

The indictment states that he also took part in setting up blockades on the main road and was prepared to confront the police using the means at his disposal. Dobrac is therefore charged with the same criminal offense against the constitutional order.

In addition, he faces a charge of “Obstructing an official person in performing official duties.” According to the case file, following the arrest of Dejan Pantić at the Jarinje border crossing on December 10, 2022, illegal Serbian structures and criminal groups in the north were immediately activated. They organized the deployment of heavy vehicles to block the main road from the village of Rudar toward Jarinje, with the aim of stopping Pantić from being transported to Pristina and preventing him from facing justice.

This offense is classified under Article 401, paragraph 5, in conjunction with paragraph 2 and Article 31 of the Criminal Code.

Srđan Vučinić, who was in charge of the cleaning unit at the “Standard” company, is accused in the third count of using force and violence in the north as a member of the group to prevent the extension of state authority and the performance of official duties.

According to the prosecution, after learning of Pantić’s detention, he worked with illegal structures and criminal groups to use the company’s vehicles, positioning them at various locations as barricades. Vučinić is therefore charged with association for anti-constitutional activities and obstructing officials in the performance of their duties.

The indictment states that, in cooperation with Nenad Orlović and others, he blocked the area’s main roads using vehicles belonging to the “Standard” company.

Nenad Orlović, an employee of the same cleaning company, is named in the fifth count of the indictment as an active participant in blocking roads in the village of Rudare and at the Technical School intersection in North Mitrovica. He is said to have acted while masked and accompanied by an unidentified person.

Orlović is accused of positioning heavy vehicles—including gravel trucks, excavators, ambulances, buses and others—and setting up fortifications near the barricades, with the aim of undermining the authority of Kosovo’s institutions in the north. He is charged with the same criminal offenses as the other defendants: association for anti-constitutional activities and obstructing an official person.

The Special Prosecution also documents that on December 28, 2022, at a meeting held in Raška, Serbia, attended by Milan Radoičić, former mayors of the northern municipalities and former police officers who had resigned, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić called for the removal of the barricades following Dejan Pantić’s release.

The prosecution’s case file also describes the defendants’ methods of communication. According to the investigation, Dušan Maksimović, Miloš Radosavljević (known as “Kurto”) and Nemanja Jolović (nicknamed “Svemo”) exchanged messages through the “Signal” and “Viber” applications, both among themselves and with other people involved.

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The US Department of State published an update to its travel advisory for Kosovo on August 25, urging US citizens to exercise increased caution, particularly in the northern areas of the country.

Kosovo remains classified as Level 2, meaning “Exercise Increased Caution.” Meanwhile, the northern part of the country has been placed at Level 3, with the recommendation “Reconsider Travel.” The advisory levels are: 1 = exercise normal precautions, 2 = exercise increased caution, 3 = reconsider travel, 4 = do not travel.

According to the US Department of State’s notice, tensions related to the political situation could escalate quickly and may cause transportation disruptions, as well as interruptions to other essential services.

US authorities also warn of the possibility of violence, including terrorist attacks and other terrorism-related activities in the Balkans, including Kosovo.

For North Mitrovica, Leposavić, Zubin Potok and Zvečan, the State Department advises US citizens to reconsider their travel plans due to the possibility of unrest.

The advisory assesses that ethnic tensions in these municipalities could create conditions for violent civil unrest to erupt.

According to the US Department of State, protests may begin without warning and could affect citizens’ movement, as well as the provision of other services.

The US emphasizes that the capacity of the US government to provide emergency assistance to its citizens in northern Kosovo is limited.

For this reason, travel by US government employees to North Mitrovica, Leposavić, Zubin Potok and Zvečan is restricted.

US citizens who choose to travel to Kosovo are advised to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), stay away from protests and crowds, and have an emergency departure plan ready that does not rely on assistance from the US government.

Travelers are also asked to follow local media reports for the latest information and be prepared to change their travel plans.

The updated advisory, published on August 25, 2026, keeps Kosovo at the second risk level, while its northern region remains at the third level.

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Kosovo Police Deputy Director for the northern region, Veton Elshani, assessed that the security situation in this part of the country is calm and stable. However, according to him, the situation remains delicate because of possible political actions or decisions.

Elshani said that Kosovo Police is deployed throughout the north and is currently not facing any particular security-related problem. He added that, if an incident were to occur, the institution he represents has the necessary capacities to deal with it.

“The situation in the north is calm and stable, but still delicate. The sensitivity is mainly related to possible political actions or decisions, since, from a security perspective, Kosovo Police is present throughout the region and there is no particular issue to highlight,” Elshani declared.

According to the deputy director, the police force currently has a sufficient number of personnel to manage the situation in the north.

He also highlighted the increase in the number of members of the Serbian community within Kosovo Police. Elshani said that, following a significant shortage of police personnel from this ethnic group, their number has now reached 151.

“In terms of police personnel, we are doing very well. For some time, we had a considerable shortage of Kosovo police officers of Serbian ethnicity, whereas now we have 151 Serbian members. In total, around 450 police officers are sufficient for the northern region, where the crime rate is not high and where issues are related more to politics than to crime. We are managing the situation and are ready to respond in every case,” he said.

Commenting on the European Union’s decision to pave the way for the opening of the Ibër Bridge, Elshani said that bridges are meant to bring people closer together, not divide them.

He stressed that, in addition to the main bridge, there are several other bridges in the north, while the movement of people, goods and vehicles across them poses no problem. According to him, there is no particular danger in this area, as Police are present in every part of it and intervene with all citizens, regardless of whether they are Albanian, Serbian or of other ethnic backgrounds.

“Bridges bring people together; they do not divide them. I do not want to give a specific position on the main bridge, but there is no danger in the north because Police are present everywhere. We respond to Kosovo citizens of every ethnic background and maintain public order and peace. In this case, there is more political rhetoric than real security issues,” Elshani declared to Ekonomia Online.

He also spoke about threats directed at Kosovo Police officers in the north, saying that they have faced such situations over the past four years and have now become accustomed to them.

“For four years, we have been in that area and have faced continuous threats, such as ‘we will kill you today’ or ‘we will kill you tomorrow.’ So far, they have not killed us. Police continue to perform their duty, and citizens have no reason to worry, because if the need to respond arises, we will be there,” said Veton Elshani, Kosovo Police deputy director for the northern region.

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