A Shocking Incident Deepens Serbia-Kosovo Tensions
The fragile situation in northern Kosovo has once again come under the spotlight after the kidnapping and shooting of Milan Vukashinović, a Kosovo Serb who was reportedly abducted by Serbian gendarmerie forces inside Kosovo’s territory. Independent media in Belgrade, unaffiliated with the government, have confirmed that Vukashinović is currently being treated at a hospital in Niš, Serbia, and is fighting for his life after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
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| Passport photo of Milan Vukashinović |
Who Is Milan Vukashinović?
Vukashinović, a Serb from northern Kosovo, was known for his outspoken opposition to the Serbian List (Lista Srpska) — a political faction tightly controlled by the government of Aleksandar Vučić. His criticism of the corruption and criminal networks operating in Serb-majority areas of Kosovo made him a target of intimidation campaigns.
In mid-2024, pro-government media in Serbia had labeled Vukashinović a “spy of Prime Minister Albin Kurti”, attempting to paint him as a traitor. The smear campaign reached its peak when he was accused, without evidence, of having planted a bomb under his own car to stage an attack that would damage the Serbian List’s image.
Independent Media Challenge the Regime Narrative
The opposition portal Nova.rs and several independent journalists have exposed the contradictions in the official narrative. They highlight that Vukashinović was targeted precisely because of his anti-corruption stance and refusal to align with the regime’s paramilitary and criminal structures in northern Kosovo.
According to Nova, last year the same pro-government outlets claimed:
“For a handful of euros, Dragan Aksentijević and his associates, including Milan Vukashinović, spied on Serbian military and police bases near the administrative line.”
This line of accusation, common among Vučić’s propaganda channels, was part of a broader effort to suppress dissent within the Kosovo Serb community — particularly those advocating coexistence and respect for the rule of law under Pristina’s institutions.
Details of the Abduction
Lawyer Ivan Ninić, a known critic of Serbia’s security apparatus, wrote on the social platform X (formerly Twitter) that Vukashinović was shot multiple times in the back by individuals wearing military-style uniforms without insignia, driving unmarked jeeps without license plates.
Ninić questioned whether these were official members of the Serbian Armed Forces or elements from parallel structures involved in cross-border provocations. He described the operation as a “serious provocation” that risks destabilizing an already fragile peace.
The use of unmarked vehicles and uniforms echoes previous covert actions by Serbia-linked groups in the north of Kosovo, often aimed at intimidating both ethnic Albanians and independent Serbs.
Echoes of the Oliver Ivanović Assassination
Observers have compared this attack to the 2018 assassination of Oliver Ivanović, another prominent Kosovo Serb politician who advocated dialogue and condemned organized crime in the north. Ivanović was gunned down in Mitrovica, and despite years of investigation, no one has been convicted for the crime — a case many link to Belgrade’s influence.
Similarly, Vukashinović’s case reveals the dangers faced by Serbs who refuse to be part of the political and criminal system sustained by Belgrade’s proxies. Independent voices in Serbia fear that this latest attack is meant to send a chilling message: dissent within the Serb community will not be tolerated.
A Voice Against Criminal Control
Before the attack, Vukashinović had publicly stated that “the rule of gangs in northern Kosovo is over — now only the law rules.”
That declaration, widely shared on social media, was seen as a direct challenge to the Serbian List and its network of loyalists.
Shortly after, Kosovo Police discovered a bomb planted under his vehicle, which was safely detonated before causing harm. Many now believe that the same forces behind that failed attempt are responsible for his abduction and near-fatal shooting.
Nova.rs and other outlets argue that Belgrade’s silence on the matter is telling. Neither the Serbian government nor the Serbian List has condemned the attack, raising suspicions that it may have been sanctioned or facilitated by elements within the regime.
Regional and International Implications
The abduction of a Kosovo Serb by Serbian forces within Kosovo territory is a serious violation of sovereignty and could further strain already tense relations between Pristina and Belgrade. The European Union and the United States, both mediating in the dialogue between the two sides, are expected to demand a full investigation.
Analysts warn that the case could trigger renewed calls for international monitoring in northern Kosovo, where Serbia continues to operate through shadow networks despite official borders.
The shooting and kidnapping of Milan Vukashinović is more than an isolated act of violence — it symbolizes the struggle within the Serb community between those seeking peace and rule of law, and those perpetuating fear and control through paramilitary and political coercion.
As Vukashinović fights for his life in a hospital in Niš, many in Kosovo and Serbia are asking the same question: Who truly controls the north — the state or the gangs?