According to Russia's spy agency, Serbia sold ammunition via Bulgaria and Czech Republic to Ukraine

Russia accused Serbia of selling artillery to Ukraine via Eastern Europe through intermediaries, the second time in a week that it has made such an accusation against its traditional Balkan allie.

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Agency, SVR, posted a statement on its website in which it said that two Serbian companies had sold rockets or mortar shells to multiple rocket launchers, as well as components for these rockets, via two companies located in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

Both Bulgaria and Czech Republic are members of NATO and the European Union and provide weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.

The SVR stated that "the manufacturers in Serbia know who the real customers are and...that their rockets, shells, and mortars will kill Russian troops and residents of Russian settlements,"

Serbian officials did not immediately comment. Aleksandar Vucic said, before the SVR's statement was released, that after a meeting on Monday with the top generals of the army in Belgrade, the country had stopped all arms sales.

Vucic said to reporters, "We've stopped literally everything and are now sending ammunition to our own army."

Serbia is able to maintain a balance between its historical relations with Russia and the Western world. Belgrade condemned the Russian invasion in Ukraine but has refused to join Western sanctions.

Serbia recognizes the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including those territories that are held by Russia.

Gazprom, a majority-owned company of Gazprom Neft, is the largest gas supplier to Serbia.

Vucic announced in May that Belgrade and Moscow would investigate how Serbian ammunition made by SVR reached Ukraine after SVR had made similar allegations which soured relations with the two countries.

Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow that he expected Belgrade to "take measures" in order to curb such sales.

Peskov said to Russia's Life TV that the topic "certainly requires special attention" because of its sensitivity for both us and Serbia. (Reporting and editing by Aleksandar Vasovic, Moscow Bureau; William Maclean).

(source: Reuters)