Russian Troop Deployment in Yugoslavia Sparks Tensions Ahead of Kosovo Peacekeeping Operation

Strategic Insights -

A tense day unfolded on Friday in Yugoslavia as several hundred Russian troops moved unexpectedly into the region, sparking fears that they might continue southward into Kosovo and create a safe haven for Serbs. The move raised several questions about the intentions of the Russian troops and their potential impact on the already complex peacekeeping operation in the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Russian troop deployment was a significant escalation in tensions ahead of the planned entry of NATO troops into Kosovo, with the Russians reportedly planning to head south through Serbia to the northern border of Kosovo.
  • Russian officials assured NATO commanders that the troops would not enter Kosovo until NATO also was ready to move in from the south, although this assurance was met with skepticism by NATO officials.
  • The deployment was seen as a "finger in the eye" of NATO by Capt. Tom Holloway, a British military spokesman, who expressed concerns that the Russians might be seeking to partition Kosovo to create a safe haven for Serbs.
  • The United States and Russia have been negotiating the issue of Russian troop deployment in Kosovo, with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright calling her Russian counterpart and ordering her deputy, Strobe Talbott, to fly back to Moscow for further consultations.
  • The withdrawal of Serbian troops from Kosovo was proceeding slowly, with officials acknowledging that Yugoslavia's military was having trouble finding enough working vehicles and fuel to meet the deadline of June 20.
  • A total of 11,900 U.S. Marines took longer than expected to reach the Macedonian capital of Skopje, forcing a delay in the planned simultaneous entry of NATO troops into Kosovo.
  • British troops are expected to be the first to enter Kosovo, with a convoy of tanks and armored vehicles driving into the region on Friday evening, and a unit of 640 British elite troops arriving in the early hours of Saturday.
  • The changing of the guard in Kosovo also involved the exodus of Serbian troops from their province, with film from a low-flying drone showing Serb troops siphoning fuel from railroad cars into trucks.

Statistics:

  • Over 23,000 bombs were dropped by NATO on Yugoslavia during the 11-week campaign against Serb forces, leading to the displacement of nearly 1 million ethnic Albanian refugees.
  • The peacekeeping operation in Kosovo is expected to involve around 50,000 international troops, including 11,900 U.S. Marines, 7,700 British soldiers, and 6,400 German troops.
  • The deadline for the withdrawal of Serbian troops from Kosovo is June 20, with the first NATO troops expected to enter the region over the weekend.
  • The Russian troop deployment is reported to involve around 200 troops and armored vehicles.

Sources:

  • The New York Times
  • Reuters
  • Associated Press
  • Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services (c) 1999