Russia handed over 19 T-72MS tanks and 20 BRDM-2MS armored personnel carriers to Serbia, the Serbian Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti.
The ceremony for the transfer of military equipment took place in a military unit near the city of Nis in the south of the country, and was attended by Defense Minister Neboisha Stefanovich, Chief of General Staff General Milan Moisilovich and Russian Ambassador Alexander Botan-Kharchenko.
“The Russian side today handed over 19 T-72MS tanks and 20 armored personnel carriers BRDM-2MS to Serbia, together with the previously transferred equipment, the transfer of 30 tanks and 30 armored personnel carriers has been completed under an agreement on military cooperation”, – Colonel Mikhailo, head of the press service of the military department, told the agency Zogovich.
In the afternoon, a demonstration day of joint exercises of the Russian special forces and the 72nd special brigade of the Serbian army at the Oresac military complex in the north-east of Belgrade is planned.
Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic, during a visit to Moscow on April 16, said that Serbia sees no obstacles to the continuation of military-technical cooperation with Russia. Earlier, President Aleksandr Vucic said that the Serbian authorities are thinking about new purchases of weapons after purchasing four Mi-35 helicopters from the Russian Federation. Serbian Defense Minister Alexander Vulin, now the Interior Minister, and the command of the republic’s armed forces in July 2020 examined 56 UAZ Patriot vehicles purchased last year in Russia.
Serbia is the largest importer of Russian weapons and military equipment in Europe. Earlier, the republic bought seven Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters from Russia, and also received six MiG-29 fighters and T-72MS tanks and BRDM-2MS armored personnel carriers as a gift. Belgrade also purchased Pantsir-S1 air defense missile systems from the Russian Federation. Vucic stated that Serbia wants to have the Russian S-400 air defense system as part of its armed forces, but cannot yet afford it.