Serbian Fighters in Ukraine Raise Fears of Renewed Instability in the Balkans

A growing number of Serbian nationalist fighters are joining Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting warnings from Western and regional officials that their eventual return could destabilize the Balkans nearly three decades after the Bosnian war.

The Gaze reports this, referring to The Telegraph. 

Hundreds of ethnic Serb militants, including veterans of the conflicts of the 1990s, have travelled to Ukraine to fight alongside Russian troops. Many are motivated by nationalist ideology and the belief that Moscow will one day support Serb efforts to reclaim disputed territories, including Kosovo.

Analysts say social media platforms have become a key recruitment tool, with Serbian fighters using Telegram and other channels to encourage young men to enlist. Some recruits are reportedly offered upfront payments of nearly $30,000, along with monthly salaries exceeding $3,000, making the campaign financially attractive despite legal risks.

Western officials fear that combat-hardened fighters returning to Bosnia and neighboring states could revive paramilitary networks and inflame long-standing ethnic tensions. “It takes only a small number of armed individuals to threaten fragile post-conflict societies,” regional analyst Srecko Latal told The Telegraph.

One of the figures highlighted in the report is Dario Ristic, a Serbian nationalist wounded while fighting in Ukraine with a Russian unit known as the Bears from Perm. Ristic, who participated in sniper and drone operations in areas including Avdiivka, later returned to Bosnia, where authorities arrested him for joining a foreign paramilitary force and placed him under house arrest.

Despite legal restrictions, Ristic remains active online and has amassed more than 10,000 followers, underscoring concerns about the influence such fighters can exert even after returning home. 

Investigators also point to the involvement of veteran fighters with alleged links to Russian intelligence networks, as well as the use of front companies designed to conceal recruitment operations. Journalist Nino Bilajac, who examined the recruitment process, said he was personally offered a payment package similar to those described by active fighters.

As The Gaze previously reported, the number of foreign soldiers fighting for Russia in Ukraine has sharply risen this year, revealing a massive expansion of Moscow’s global recruitment network.

For instance, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, was involved in recruiting men from South Africa and Botswana to serve in the Russian army.