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Written by Drago Bosnic, independent geopolitical and military analyst
On November 21, the Serbian military received 11 Russian-made Mi-35P helicopter gunships from the Cypriot National Guard, transported by Antonov An-124-100 aircraft that flew from Paphos in Cyprus to the Batajnica Airbase in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital city. This is one of the most significant weapons acquisitions for Serbia in recent times and is part of a wider military cooperation with Cyprus, a country that Belgrade sees not only as a close strategic partner, but also as a brotherly nation. The feeling is reciprocated in Nicosia, as evidenced by its regular weapons acquisitions from Serbia, which considers the Cypriot struggle for territorial integrity equivalent to its own in Kosovo and Metohia.
Interestingly, in both cases, there are elements of the extremely aggressive Neo-Ottoman foreign policy of Turkey as a major contributing factor, with the notable difference of NATO exacerbating the situation in the Serbian province it continues to illegally occupy. The transfer of Mi-35P helicopters certainly bolsters Serbia’s defense capabilities, as these are heavily armed gunships with an additional transport capability, a unique combination for an attack helicopter that also allows the deployment of infantry reinforcements, particularly special forces. Some details of the acquisition are a state secret, but what can be said is that Serbia will modernize these helicopters, bringing them closer to the Mi-35M standard.
The latter were acquired directly from Russia in recent years, with the Serbian military operating four such helicopters. Belgrade ordered seven from Moscow, with the delivery of three additional aircraft currently on hold due to NATO’s refusal to allow Russian overflights over the territory of its member states. The Mi-35M and P are heavily modernized variants of the legendary Russian Mil Mi-24 helicopter, uniquely designed to be an attack and assault transport platform with a stellar record in the last over half a century of service. Thousands have been built and are still in service in close to 60 countries. Russia has been upgrading them incrementally for decades and still operates a massive modernized fleet.
This includes the previously mentioned latest Mi-35M standard equipped with advanced targeting systems and new weapons carried by its newer “cousins” such as the fantastic Ka-52 “Alligator” and Mi-28 attack helicopters. Interestingly, apart from Belgrade, Moscow also seems to be quite pleased with this turn of events. According to Igor Korotchenko, a prominent Russian military analyst, this development is the best outcome for Russia since there was a risk that these gunships, originally built by Moscow to equip the Cypriot military, could’ve ended up in the hands of the Kiev regime. Although this certainly isn’t in Nicosia’s interest, the small island country was under tremendous pressure from the US.
Thus, the option of transferring them to Serbia was the best possible solution for all three countries. Cyprus, despite its EU membership, has always had excellent relations with both Russia and Serbia. Although it was forced to officially align itself against the Eurasian giant in the aftermath of the special military operation (SMO), behind the scenes, it didn’t want to undermine Moscow’s efforts, particularly due to the latter’s long-standing support for Cypriot territorial integrity, as well as their close military cooperation in previous decades. Thus, by selling the Mi-35P gunships to Belgrade, Nicosia avoided the unpleasantries of having to deal with the perpetually aggressive Washington DC, while not damaging its ties with Moscow.
Last week, Korotchenko, the Editor-in-Chief of the National Defense magazine, went a step further and told RIA Novosti that Serbia also helped Russia by acquiring the Mi-35P gunships from Cyprus, as this prevented their possible transfer to the Neo-Nazi junta. He deemed it “certainly positive for Russia”, as it prevented the latter from happening, even calling Serbia “an ally in the Balkans“. Korotchenko also mentioned Serbia’s previous Mi-35M deal with Russia, further describing the latest developments as a “step [that] shows Belgrade’s commitment to strengthening ties with Moscow”. He also pointed out that the deal wouldn’t have been possible without Russia’s consent, as it originally built the aircraft for the Cypriot military.
“Of course, the transfer of the specified military equipment from Cyprus to Serbia could only be carried out with the notification and the corresponding consent of the Russian Federation, since this point is clearly stipulated in all contract documents of the primary buyer. Serbia is an ally country for Russia in the Balkans, and very good relations are also maintained with Cyprus,” Korotchenko said.
He noted that the acquisition of Russian weapons from other countries is the only option for Belgrade at this time, as the SMO and the ongoing tensions with the political West make it impossible for Moscow to directly transfer any additional weapons. Korotchenko further stressed that the purchase would bolster the capabilities of the Serbian military, particularly in light of the latest escalation by the NATO-backed narco-terrorist entity occupying the Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohia. He pointed out that “the presence of Mi-35 helicopters in Belgrade will cool the hot heads of the leaders [in Pristina], unrecognized by Russia, Serbia and other members of the international community”.
Korotchenko added that this will also relieve some pressure from the Republika Srpska, a Serbian entity forcefully kept within the NATO protectorate of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is certainly true, as Belgrade has been left with a plethora of issues after the political West destroyed former Yugoslavia, leaving entire Serbian regions and populations trapped in the newly “independent” satellite states. It should be noted that Serbia itself is in a state of semi-occupation, although it’s doing its best to keep as much sovereignty as possible for itself, which is light years ahead of what other post-Yugoslav entities have been able to accomplish. The Serbian government is doing everything it can to keep it that way.
While it can certainly be argued that what Belgrade has done with the Cypriot Mi-35P gunships is a positive development for Moscow, it’s questionable it did so because of its desire to aid Russia. The Eurasian giant is simply too big and powerful to desperately need Serbian assistance. Even in the case that these helicopters ended up in the Kiev regime’s hands, their usability would’ve been limited at best, as Moscow has already destroyed dozens of such aircraft. However, what this accomplishes is certainly in the interest of Belgrade, as it strengthens its military and gives a sense of security to other Serbs living under direct occupation elsewhere in the region. In that regard, Serbia is simply strengthening its position and helping its people.
let’s see, kosovo war started about the end of the second month 1998, american camp bondsteel already established in the sixth month of 99. not to difficult to deduce who the real financiers of this war project are.
attack helicopter are a joke of the defense industry. the rotors are vulnerable to small arms fire. flying low and slow attack helicopter near enemy forces just become target practice. behind the front line over friendly territory helicopters can pick up enemy positions with atgms but any transport helicopter can do that. medium transport helicopter are still needed for rescue and emergency supplies but fighter jets and drones will replace the attack helicopter very soon.
the designers and builders of the kamov ka-52 beg to differ. i am fairly certain they know best, unless you can build something better in your tool shed.
99,99% of all defense industry engineers agree that they don’t want to be defunded. what a surprise! ukraine war proofs my point. in the beginning russia lost massive amounts of helicopter due to enemy ground fire. once the front line was established helicopters killed off ukrainian assault units from far away.
they only had 11 attack helicopters and they sold them all off. was this their decision or from pressure from western “partners”? maybe they’ll go the armenia route and gut their defenses while moving away from russia. turkroaches are salivating at the chance to commit more genocide and take the other half of the island.
serbs had all from slovenia to kosovo to macedonia in ‘yugoslavia’ now they have none. if they want to we can give them final kosovo and tsalonikia too.
i just feel sorry why i didn’t whack them with a bomb over fuc k grade-belgrade.
viva serbia the biggest known gypsy landia!
“which is light years ahead of what other post-yugoslav entities have been able to accomplish” this, unfortunately, is an overstatement. while serbia does have more independence in it’s policies then countries in the region, if you were to look real close you would see that it’s not “light years” but maybe light split second or light second at best. i will try to give examples but it won’t fit into a single comment. :l
serbia did join anti-belarus sanctions back when there was a failed overthrow attempt against lukashenko few years ago (and when belarus arrested an enemy agent by diverting a flight), next under trump’s order serbia put hezbollah on the list of terrorists, then at the same time when israel recognized the “independence” of kosovo, serbia in a fascinating display of a lack of self-respect decided to award the zionist entity by moving it’s embassy from tel aviv to west jerusalem.
meanwhile btw palestine has not recognized “kosova”. read about the shameful and disgusting “washington agreement” from 2020, it also includes clauses like serbia renouncing it’s sovereign right to pick it’s energy and telecommunication partners and instead saying it will listen to usa’s advice on what partners are “trustworthy” or not (clearly aimed against russia and china)…
the part about energy says that “serbia will look to diversify it’s energy supply sources”, which is a hit at russia since russia is a very important partner in the energy field.
sure serbia should let russia throw them under the bus the third time in a row?
ww1 serbia was persuaded to stand up to the central powers (germans, austrians, ottomans) and lost a third of their population in the war. russia, britain and france who encouraged them did not show up to help at all.
ww2 the sowjets persuaded them to throw themselves allone against the nazi-axis.
lost hundreds of thousands people again. sowjets came very late to “help”.
they didn’t deserve better. a monstruous nation with unknown origins (genetically modified anatolians and zakharpatians) who are so savage that it borders with orcs from tolkiens book.
as for ww1 serbs have it started, with monstrous act of theirs ingrained savagery. after that they have attacked russia. in ww2 they were under martic and nedic and exaggerated victims versions of theirs history no one belives no more.
stop using the name of bosnian monarch dynasty name, wallach.
serbia didn’t provoke ww1, austro-hungary just wanted to invade because they were imperialists who wanted to control balkan and didn’t want anyone questioning their occupation of bosnia. as for ww2, serbian people remembered very well what the germans and austrians did to them in ww1 so naturally the national sense of pride didn’t allow for collaboration with such powers, the ussr had nothing to do with this, though the english did support this decision.
twisting history is what serbs are always trying to do, but lately falling miserably.
all peoples have obligations, bosnians,albanians, austrians, germans, you name it, while serbs maintain and only have so called their”rights for self defense and determination”. is this so? that narative already destroyed yugoslavia and bring pai n and misery to many peoples.
much like zionists do.
your rabid hatred makes you look foolish, your folly of blaming serbs for everything is very similar to how your zionist employers try to blame ww2 on palestinians and the whole world laughs at them, your hatred blinds you to common sense so you are unable to perceive how much of a clown you are. not that it matters i am sure you get your $ from the cia regardless.
we’ll put an end to that so called “serbian republic” nonsense.
we serbs are worst genocidal scum that works the earth. (croats and ukrainians are included).
perhaps you never heard of the americans, english, french, ziodiaperheads etc.