Serbia: Russia largest donor to our army

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - The Russian Federation is the largest donor to the Serbian Armed Forces, Serbia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

"The Serbian Army received the largest donations from the Russian Federation, which donated six MiG-29 aircraft, and a donation of 30 BRDM-2 armored reconnaissance vehicles and 30 T-72 tanks with supporting logistics elements is underway," the ministry said in a statement.

In addition, significant discounts and other benefits were obtained during negotiations for the acquisition of arms and military equipment from the Russian Federation.

The Republic of Belarus also donated 4 MiG-29 aircraft to the Serbian Armed Forces.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for strengthening Serbia’s military.

Vucic on Monday inspected 10 recently arrived Russian armored patrol vehicles at a Serbian army military base, part of the promised supply of 30 secondhand T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicles.

Romania refused to let them transit via the Danube River because of European Union sanctions imposed on Russia for its actions in Ukraine.

"The most important thing for us is that we managed to transport the vehicles to Serbia. How and which way they came, that is our business," said Vucic.

The armored vehicles were flown to Serbia on Russian transport planes last week using Hungarian airspace, according to local media.