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The leading Balkan news channel in English on Telegram.
🇭🇷 Croatia is still without Western air defence, which means that de facto it is non-existent.
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—⚛️ 🇷🇸/🇷🇺 NEW: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić held talks in Belgrade with Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev on expanding cooperation in nuclear science and innovation, including the use of nuclear technology in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and potential future energy projects.
➡️ The meeting also covered training Serbian specialists and possible involvement of Serbian companies in international nuclear initiatives, as Belgrade signals growing long-term ambitions in the peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
🔗 Dunav Intel
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
#BREAKING | 🇺🇸 🇬🇷 — The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the U.S. Navy's newest and largest aircraft carrier, has arrived at Souda Bay on the island of Crete, Greece, for a scheduled port visit.
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🇬🇷 🇧🇬🇹🇷 ⚡️Explosions on Evros Embankments Raise Greek–Turkish–Bulgarian Tensions!
Regional military services report strong signs of deliberate provocation along the Amorios and Mandra embankments of the Evros River, where explosions were heard in recent days. These areas were already weakened by prolonged bad weather, and the resulting breaches flooded more than 200,000 acres of fertile cereal and rice fields. While Turkey has previously accused Greece of similar sabotage, current information suggests Bulgarian involvement as well.
📰 Newsbreak
—🇭🇷/🇷🇸 NEW: Croatian PM Andrej Plenković told Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić that the emerging defense cooperation between Croatia, Kosovo and Albania is not directed against Serbia, describing the partnership as technical and institutional, focused on regional stability.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—‼️🇺🇸/🇽🇰🇺🇸 URGENT: The USA is pushing to reduce the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission, prompting concern among senior NATO diplomats who warn that “things in the Western Balkans can escalate quickly.”
➡️ The report was relayed via Politico Europe, highlighting internal alliance worries over security risks if the mission is downsized.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🪖🇷🇸/🇸🇴 NEW: Serbia is set to deliver 17 M-84 AC3 main battle tanks and unmanned aerial vehicles to Somalia as part of a wider military training and financing package, with Belgrade reportedly also supplying maintenance equipment, spare parts, weapons and ammunition.
➡️ According to Somalian sources, Serbian instructors have been training Somalia’s elite presidential guard special forces in the operation of this advanced hardware for over three and a half years under a mixed direct-purchase and credit arrangement.
🔗 Dunav Intel
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🪖🇲🇰 NEW: Dozens of North Macedonia soldiers have been placed in quarantine following a scabies outbreak in the army, with poor conditions in the military blamed for the spread of the disease.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🇺🇸/🇽🇰 NEW: A large digital billboard marking Kosovo’s Independence Day was displayed in New York City’s Times Square.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🇺🇸/🇽🇰 NEW: US President Donald Trump has told Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani that Washington remains “steadfast” in its support for Kosovo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, extending congratulations to the country and its citizens on the occasion of Independence Day on 17 February.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🇺🇸/🇽🇰 NEW: Washington, DC has officially proclaimed 17 February as “Kosovo Independence Day,” in a symbolic city-level move recognizing Kosovo’s progress and honoring the Albanian-American community.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🇧🇬💸 From February first, Bulgaria officially stopped using the Lev
➡️ The Euro is now fully adopted in the country.
ℹ️ Information reported by our source in Bulgaria.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—Let's help our friends from Wallachian Gazette!
They had to rebuild their channel from scratch. If you like their content, don't hesitate to subscribe!
—❗️🇷🇸❌🇭🇷🇦🇱🇽🇰 URGENT: Serbia’s General Staff has announced intensified efforts to bolster the country’s armed forces, declaring an ambition to build capabilities surpassing the combined military power of the recently formed Croatia–Albania–Kosovo alliance.
➡️ The move is framed in Belgrade as a response to the alliance’s emergence and a bid to strengthen national deterrence.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—❗️🪖🇦🇱/🇭🇷/🇽🇰 NEW: Defense officials from Albania and Croatia, both NATO members, met in Shkodra with representatives of Kosovo to advance a trilateral military cooperation framework presented as “coordination” and “engagement.”
➡️ The move effectively treats Kosovo as a de facto military partner despite ongoing non-recognition by some states and the constraints of UNSCR 1244, adding pressure on Serbia amid the construction of new regional security structures around it.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—❗️🇷🇸 NEW: Serbian defense companies have unveiled their first modern long-range cruise missile, named “Goshawk,” with a reported range of up to 150 km, at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
➡️ The system is presented as an autonomous, long-range loitering and cruise-capable strike weapon for precision attacks on high-value ground targets, marking a new step in Serbia’s push into the global land-based deep-strike market.
⚠️ Image for illustrative purposes only. That's not the missile.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—We strongly recommend following Dunav Intel, a highly influential X account that masters Balkan OSINT like no other. He's now on Telegram, too.
➡️ We consider Dunav Intel a reliable source and consult it regularly for our posts. Don't hesitate to take a look at his channel!
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—❗️🇺🇸/🇧🇬/🇮🇷 US military planes spotted at Sofia airport amid Iran tensions
➡️ Several US Air Force aircraft, including air refueling tankers and cargo planes, were photographed at Sofia’s "Vasil Levski" Airport, Bulgaria’s main civilian airport.
➡️ The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence stated their presence is linked to ongoing NATO exercises, though the facility will remain closed to civilian flights on February 23–24, operating only for military use — an unusual move.
➡️ According to regional sources, Iran has warned that any country assisting potential US actions against it would be considered a legitimate target; the information remains unconfirmed.
ℹ️ Information reported by our source in Bulgaria.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
JUST IN: Gold reclaims $5,200
@WatcherGuru
🇭🇺🇪🇺🤝🇺🇦❗️ — Hungary has signaled it is prepared to back a proposed €90 billion EU loan package for Ukraine, but only if oil transit through the “Friendship” (Druzhba) pipeline is fully restored.
▶️Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that energy security remains a core national interest, linking Budapest’s support directly to stable crude supplies.
▶️The resumption of pipeline flows would help stabilize Hungary’s domestic fuel market, reduce price volatility, and ease pressure on its energy sector.
▶️In turn, approval of the EU loan would provide Kyiv with substantial financial support for reconstruction, defense, and budget stability amid ongoing conflict.
🇺🇸🤡🇷🇴 At the Board of Peace, Donald Trump called President Nicușor Dan the "Prime Minister" of Romania.
This is likely one of Trump's countless successful attempts to make fun of politicians he dislikes. Clearly, Dan is not his favourite.
@Wallachian_Gazette
—🇷🇸/🇨🇿 WATCH: Serbian Chief of the General Staff Gen. Milan Mojsilović said the Serbian Armed Forces expect delivery of Czech-made RM-70 Vampire multiple rocket launchers this year, in a move that will significantly bolster artillery and rocket units and enhance long-range firepower as part of the ongoing modernization of the Land Forces.
➡️ The RM-70 Vampire system has also been observed in use by Ukrainian forces in the war in Ukraine.
🔗 Dunav Intel
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🛢🇭🇺/🇷🇺/🇭🇷 NEW: Hungarian energy company MOL has signed its first contracts to ship Russian crude by sea to Croatia for onward transit to Hungary, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced, as Budapest seeks to replace halted Druzhba pipeline flows blocked via Ukraine and redirect supplies through the Adriatic route.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🇺🇸/🇽🇰 NEW: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked Kosovo’s Independence Day by stating that Washington remains unwavering in its support for Kosovo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing expectations of even stronger bilateral cooperation in the years ahead.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🇹🇷/🇽🇰 NEW: Turkish defense company Baykar has congratulated Kosovo on its Independence Day, calling it a “friendly and brotherly nation”.
➡️ The company, a key producer of Bayraktar armed drones and a symbol of Turkey’s growing defense footprint in the Balkans, has supplied TB2 drones to Kosovo’s security forces in recent years.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🇧🇬 NEW: Bulgaria's ex-president Radev stated on BNT Panorama that he plans to set up a new party once legal deadlines allow, after the spring 2026 vote.
➡️ He resigned last month to enter politics, citing failed elites and public calls for change.
➡️ Polls show his bloc leading at over 25% ahead of GERB.
ℹ️ Information reported by our source in Bulgaria.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
—🇧🇬 Bulgarian piracy giants seized in US-Bulgaria raid
➡️ GDBOP, DANS, US agencies and Europol shut down ArenaBG, Zamunda and Zelka in a joint operation.
➡️ Domains now display US Homeland Security seizure notice for copyright violations.
➡️ At least three face prosecution.
ℹ️ Information reported by our source in Bulgaria.
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
🇷🇴📉🏭 Romania loses significant economic value annually due to the lack of refining capacity, warns Minister of Energy Bogdan Ivan, criticizing the current model of exporting raw resources.
According to him, copper ore extracted in Romania leaves at a reduced purity to refineries abroad, and is then re-imported at industrial standards, which generates significant costs and losses for the local economy. Ivan claims that an investment of approximately 300 million euros would allow the construction of the first copper refinery in the country, capable of serving both the domestic market and the region.
Ivan said that in mid-April, a Memorandum would be presented to the Government, which would formalize the collaboration between Romania and the US for the first integrated project of extraction, refining and industrial use of resources. The official specified that the partner involved already has contracts with large companies in the American aerospace industry, which could ensure the sale of the resulting production.
In the context of global competition for scarce resources, the minister believes that the development of domestic processing could transform Romania from a supplier of raw materials into a relevant player on the international market.
@Wallachian_Gazette
—❗️🇷🇸 NEW: The Serbian Ministry of Defense has sharply condemned a trilateral meeting of the Albania–Croatia–Kosovo military alliance, stating that Serbia “remains committed to peace but will not allow its vital national and defense interests to be threatened.”
✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English
#BREAKING | 🇭🇷 🇷🇺 🇭🇺 🇸🇰 — Croatia Rejects Transport of Russian Oil via Adria Pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia
Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar has stated that while the Adria pipeline is fully operational and ready for use, Croatia will not facilitate the transit of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. This comes amid requests from Budapest and Bratislava following disruptions to Russian crude flows through Ukraine's Druzhba pipeline.
Šušnjar emphasized: "The Adria pipeline is ready, so no EU country has any technical justifications left to continue being tied to Russian oil. A barrel bought from Russia may seem cheaper for some countries, but it helps finance the war and attacks on the Ukrainian people. It is time to put an end to this military speculation."
He added that Croatia remains committed to not endangering Central Europe's fuel supplies and will address the issue in compliance with EU law and U.S. OFAC regulations.