A strong explosion near Zubina Potok, the Ibar-Lepenac canal was damaged, electricity returned to Gračanica

Water company in the south Kosovska Mitrovica announced that due to damage to part of the Ibar-Lepenac canal, the supply of drinking water was interrupted, due to a strong explosion that resounded on Friday evening in the village of Varage near Zubin Potok.

"Due to damage to part of the Ibar-Lepenac canal, from which we are supplied with untreated water, the supply of drinking water was interrupted. Therefore, please ensure a supply of drinking water. You will be informed about all new developments," the statement of the Regional Water Company states, reports KoSSev.

In the village of Varage in the municipality of Zubin Potok, according to the testimony of the locals, a strong detonation was heard, after which water began to leak from the canal. There is still no confirmation from the Kosovo Police about whether they have anything to do with the damage to that canal and how the damage occurred, but the police have confirmed that water is leaking from the Ibar-Lepenac canal.

The mayor of the municipality of Zubin Potok, Izmir Zećiri, confirmed for the Kallxo portal that the channel was damaged.

"The dam that brings water from the Ibar-Lepenac canal was completely damaged and the water is leaking through the cracks, it damaged one house. Detonations are suspected. According to the citizens, there was an explosion," said Zećiri.

Also, the Director of the "Ibar-Lepenac" channel, Faruk Mujka, stated for the Pristina portal "IndeksOnline" that it is possible that it was sabotage, that is, that someone "planted dynamite".

"Someone planted the dynamite, it was obviously a deliberate attack, it cannot be otherwise," Mujka said.

He said that they are currently working on repairing the damage.

"The police took over the case. We have damage and the water supply is currently suspended. We are trying to repair the damage as soon as possible," Mujka said.

Gracanica has electricity again.

Electricity supply was restored in Gračanica and the surrounding areas, which had been suspended due to the damage caused by the explosion on the canal.

The company "Ibar-Lepenac" in Pristina explained that the main canal that supplies water companies and the Electric Power Corporation with water was damaged.

Citizens have no water supply, and thermal power plants have a problem with cooling the turbines.

Turbines in thermal power plants "Kosovo A" and "Kosovo B" are cooled by water from the Ibar-Lepenac canal.

Serbian List demands investigation

The Serbian list strongly condemned the destruction of the canal, stressing that this "attack" threatened the water supply of citizens and caused anxiety among Serbs in the north of Kosovo.

"We want to make it clear that this act is absolutely against the interests of the Serbian people and we demand from KFOR and EULEX an urgent investigation regarding this case," stated the statement of the Serbian List.

The regional water company in southern Kosovska Mitrovica announced that due to damage to part of the Ibar-Lepenac canal, the supply of drinking water was interrupted.

"Due to damage to part of the Ibar-Lepenac canal, from which we are supplied with untreated water, the supply of drinking water was interrupted. Therefore, please ensure a supply of drinking water. You will be informed about all new developments," the water company's announcement reads.

Kurti: Vučić and Radoičić organized the attack

On the night between Friday and Saturday, due to the explosion, an extraordinary session of the Security Council was held in Pristina, chaired by Kosovo Prime Minister Aljbin Kurti, writes KoSSev.

He previously met with the KFOR commander, and before that he made an extraordinary address at a midnight press conference.

During that time, teams on the ground are busy working on the rehabilitation of the damaged Ibar-Lepenac canal.

The government in Pristina, like Kurti before, directly accused Aleksandar Vučić and Milan Radoičić of organizing the attack, and now they are linking everything to the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, which Donika Gervala-Schwartz also did before.

"This session was convened after the third attack in the last 72 hours, this time targeting the country's critical infrastructure - the water supply system and electricity generation," they announced.

The explosions took place on December 26, 28 and 29.

Vjosa Osmani: The baton of the President and the Government of Serbia

As before, Kurti himself, as well as President Vjosa Osmani, and the Council point the finger at the Serbian authorities and parts of Kosovo Serbs.

"The first indications suggest that this attack was orchestrated by the Serbian state apparatus, which has the capacity for such criminal and terrorist attacks. Elements of the terrorist organizations 'Civil Protection' and 'Northern Brigade', as well as the main criminal Milan Radoičić, under the baton of the President and Government of Serbia, plan and carry out such professional attacks in Serbia".

They went one step further and, as before, extended the accusations to Russia.

"Also indicated is a probable connection with aggressive Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy facilities during this week, which left more than a million Ukrainian households without electricity just before winter," the government said in a statement around 3:30 this morning.

During the session, members of the Council discussed the emergency measures that have been taken and are being taken to mitigate the consequences of the attack and ensure security for critical infrastructure in Kosovo. Concrete steps have been taken to restore the situation to normal, the government further states.

Vučić: Serbia has nothing to do with sabotage

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, stated that Serbia has nothing to do with the sabotage of the Ibar-Lepenac canal and that it has no intention of justifying it to anyone.

"Whenever there is a chase and a harangue against someone, stay away and do not participate in it, always come to a conclusion with a cool head." You never go up the street, not related to today, yesterday. "Never make decisions in fear and under pressure," Vučić advised the young people from the Serbian Progressive Party whom he spoke with in the municipality of Stari Grad.

He said that he did not want to "rush" to comment on the explosion at six o'clock on Saturday morning.

"Why should I apologize to someone, when they know that we didn't do it, to run around the world media and apologize for something we didn't do," said Vučić.

Marko Đurić: Unfounded accusations undermine efforts for constructive dialogue 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Đurić, condemned the attack on the Ibar-Lepenac Canal and called on international institutions to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation in order to identify those responsible for that act.

"While Kurti's ethno-nationalist regime hastened to point the finger at Serbia without evidence, we believe that such premature accusations are a deliberate diversion, potentially pointing to the involvement of Aljbin Kurti's regime," Đurić stated in a post on the X platform.

He assessed that unfounded accusations undermine efforts for constructive dialogue and only serve to escalate tensions in an already delicate situation.

Đurić stated that Serbia is ready to, if necessary, provide financial and technical assistance in repairing the damage to the Ibar-Lepenac canal.

"We call on all parties to resist provocations and give priority to dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation." "Serbia remains committed to peace, stability and cooperation as a basis for a prosperous and united future in the Balkans," said Đurić.

Additional measures to strengthen security

The Security Council also approved additional measures to strengthen security around facilities and services of critical importance, such as bridges, substations, antennas, lakes, canals, etc. Kosovo Police and Kosovo Security Forces will be activated on the ground for this purpose. Inter-institutional and international cooperation was also intensified in order to prevent similar attacks in the future.

"Our country is determined and ready to protect its citizens and critical infrastructure." We will not tolerate such acts aimed at destabilizing Kosovo and jeopardizing peace and democratic functioning. The situation has been brought under control and is moving towards normalization. We call on all international actors to condemn this attack, which caused great damage to us," it was stated.

Previously, in an extraordinary address, Kurti also complained about the fact that there are no Kosovo security forces in the North.

"Do you remember last summer, how there were calls for the police not to wear long pipes, or to reduce the number of police officers, so that attacks would not be carried out?" Kurti said at the press conference in response to a journalist's question.

In his address, he called on citizens to be calm and to continuously follow official instructions and announcements, and on the other hand,

"The institutions of Kosovo remain maximally engaged in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of citizens and to ensure that the perpetrators of these illegal acts are held accountable before the law. We also call on citizens not to fall for misinformation and misinterpretations of the hybrid war against our country and people," said Kurti.

House searches in Serbian villages

Early Saturday morning, the Kosovo police began searching houses in several Serbian villages in the municipality of Zubin Potok, and according to unofficial local sources, some were detained, reports RTS.

The police confirmed that they were carrying out the operation, but did not give details.

Local sources state that households in the villages of Varage, Ugljare and Zupče are being searched, and that the police are entering houses by force.

Members of the special unit are participating in the action of the Kosovo Police. They blocked certain parts of the village.

The police announced that they have stepped up security measures at sensitive locations, while continuing intensive work to shed light on the case of the explosion and damage to the Ibar-Lepenac water channel near the village of Varage.

Kfor: That those responsible be brought to justice

The KFOR mission today strongly condemned the attack on the Ibar-Lepenac canal, which had a serious impact on the supply of water and electricity in the north of Kosovo, stressing that it is important to establish the facts and bring those responsible to justice.

"Since last night, KFOR members have secured the water pipe and the surrounding areas. Moreover, KFOR has offered to provide logistical assistance, removal of explosive ordnance and engineering support to institutions in Kosovo," KFOR announced.

The statement added that KFOR works in close cooperation with the Kosovo Police and EULEX and continues to implement its mandate based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 from 1999 and contributes to a peaceful and safe environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo and freedom of movement. , at all times and impartially.