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Russian aircraft arrive in Serbia for joint training. In a statement from the Serbian Ministry of Defence, the Serbian government has announced a large-scale military exercise alongside Russia. The exercise, set to take place between May 1st and June 30th, is officially to test the overall readiness of Serbian forces in responding to emerging crises but is more than likely set to be a response to the joint US-Kosovo exercise taking place at the same time. Relations between Serbia and Kosovo have been poor ever since Kosovo declared and gained its independence in 2008, a move that was illegal according to the Serbian constitution. The exercise will be the largest exercise since the withdrawal of NATO forces from Kosovo (KFOR) in 2015 and involve nearly 60.000 soldiers from all branches of the Serbian military and police forces. Russian airforce plans spotted on undisclosed Serbian airbase Along with Serbian troops, Russia is sending the 36th Guards Fighter Regiment to take part in the exercise. This will be the largest deployment of Russian troops to a European country outside of Belarus since the fall of the Soviet Union. This deployment has drawn the eye of militaries all across Europe. Especially nearby NATO members Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and Hungary as well as NATO candidate Montenegro have taken an interest in this sudden appearance of the Russian Airforce in their backyard. Albania, Bulgaria, and Romania have all increased their air patrols as well as requested further joint NATO assistance in establishing air patrols over the Balkans much like NATO air patrols in the Baltic countries. Declassified satelite image of undisclosed Serbian airbase As always ADANews will continue to cover this situation as it unfolds. This potential flashpoint in the Balkans threaten to open up the wounds of the Yugoslav wars as well as the "foolish thing in the Balkans" that sparked the horrendous slaughter of the first world war. Malcolm Reynolds ADANews