Serbia has requested help from Russia to fight wildfires due to a lack of available planes from the European Union. A Russian IL-76P firefighting plane landed in Nis on Wednesday and was deployed to tackle a wildfire that has been raging for weeks in the Deliblatska Pescara natural reserve. According to Serbian officials, the EU's resources have been depleted due to wildfires across Europe. The plane's arrival is seen as a sign of Serbia's balancing act between its historical ties with Russia and its aspirations to join the European Union.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Serbia has turned to Russia for help in fighting wildfires due to a lack of available planes from the European Union. The country's interior ministry cited a shortage of firefighting aircraft within the EU as the reason for accepting Russian assistance. A Russian Emergencies Ministry IL-76P firefighting plane landed in the southern city of Nis on Wednesday evening and was deployed on Thursday to tackle a wildfire in the Deliblatska Pescara natural protected reserve, which has been burning for weeks. Serbia is not an EU member but has access to emergency help under the bloc's Civil Protection Mechanism. However, this summer, EU resources have been stretched thin due to wildfires across Europe, making it difficult for them to provide assistance. Luka Causic, head of the Interior Ministry’s Department for Emergency Situations, said that the Russian plane will "significantly strengthen our capacities in fighting the fires."
Written for “Serbia's Wildfire Crisis” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.40 for article 1455 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-21
Serbia turns to Russia to help fight wildfires
BELGRADE, Aug 20 - Serbia has turned to Russia for help in fighting wildfires because of a lack of available planes from the European Union, its interior ministry said.
asserted
ministry → turn → Union
A Russian Emergencies Ministry IL-76P firefighting plane landed in the southern city of Nis on Wednesday evening and was deployed on Thursday to tackle a wildfire in the Deliblatska Pescara natural protected reserve that has raged for weeks.
Serbia is not a member of the EU but has access to emergency EU help under the bloc's Civil Protection Mechanism.
asserted
Serbia → land → Mechanism
This summer, Belgrade sent a firefighting helicopter and emergency response team to help Spain combat wildfires under that mechanism, but wildfires across Europe have sapped EU resources.
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wildfires → send → resources
"Considering that there are no firefighting aircraft of this capacity available within the EU...the arriving Russian aircraft will significantly strengthen our capacities in fighting the fires," Luka Causic, head of the Interior Ministry’s Department for Emergency Situations, said late on Wednesday.
asserted
Causic → consider → Wednesday
The EU did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
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EU → respond → comment
Russian planes are forbidden from flying over European airspace under sanctions imposed over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but humanitarian aid is exempt.
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aid → forbid → Ukraine
On its way to Serbia, the Russian plane crossed the airspace of EU and NATO member Bulgaria following a request from Belgrade, the BTA news agency reported, citing a statement by Bulgaria's Ministry of Transport and Communications.
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agency → cross → Transport
The plane's arrival is another sign of Serbia's balancing act between Russia, with which it has historical ties, and the EU, which it hopes to join.
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it → balance → which
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Serbia this month, but Belgrade has not joined sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.
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Belgrade → visit → Ukraine
"We came here to work.
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We → come → ?
It is not the first time; we feel like at home here," pilot Andrei Vidlov told state RTS news on Wednesday after he landed the plane.
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he → feel → plane
Serbian media said the aircraft was sent on instructions from Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a request for assistance by Serbia.
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aircraft → say → Serbia
Reuters could not immediately confirm this.
uncertain
Reuters → confirm → this
