**Title: EU and Russian Aircraft Assist Serbia in Combating Wildfires**
**Date: August 24, 2026**
Serbia is receiving international assistance to combat persistent wildfires that have been raging for weeks in the Deliblatska Pescara nature reserve, located near the capital city of Belgrade. The Serbian government requested help from the European Union and Russia after realizing that local resources were insufficient to manage the escalating crisis.
Firefighting efforts are being bolstered by helicopters and personnel from several EU member states, including the Czech Republic and Romania. As of Monday, Serbian state media reported that a separate wildfire in the Stolovi mountain range has been brought under control, aided by a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 water-bombing aircraft.
The Serbian Interior Minister, Ivica Dacic, described the firefighting situation as “extremely difficult,” with over 400 personnel deployed daily to tackle the blazes. President Aleksandar Vucic indicated that the decision to seek international aid was made promptly once it became evident that Serbia's own firefighting capabilities were inadequate.
On Friday, Serbia formally requested assistance through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, a protocol that allows non-member states to seek aid from EU countries during emergencies. The EU's response has included the deployment of four Black Hawk helicopters from Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, along with firefighting teams and vehicles from Germany and Romania. Some of these resources were already operational over the weekend, while additional support, including a German ground team, is expected to arrive shortly.
The collaboration between Serbia and the EU is not one-sided; earlier in the wildfire season, Serbia had dispatched a firefighting helicopter and response team to assist Spain, which was facing its own wildfire challenges.
The current wildfire season in the Balkans has been exacerbated by an unusually hot and dry summer, creating conditions that are conducive to fire outbreaks. In addition to the fires in Serbia, neighboring North Macedonia is also grappling with wildfires, including one near the town of Strumica that has reportedly damaged at least one home. Local farmer Ljubce Ivanski described the devastation, noting that strong winds have overwhelmed firefighting efforts.
Further complicating the situation, a significant fire that ignited over the weekend between Bosnia and Croatia has led to the closure of a major road connecting Trebinje to the Croatian tourist city of Dubrovnik. This closure has stranded thousands of travelers and prompted the evacuation of nearby villages. Croatian firefighters have crossed the border to assist in controlling this fire, which has spread across 16 kilometers of challenging terrain.
As wildfires continue to pose a threat across the region, the collaborative response from both EU countries and Russia highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing environmental disasters. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of these fires on both human communities and natural landscapes.