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Half of Europe has come to Serbia's aid, Vucic: 'We are a firepower for them'
Croatia🏛️ PoliticsCenter8/23/2026

Half of Europe has come to Serbia's aid, Vucic: 'We are a firepower for them'

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić visited the area of Deliblatska Pustinja, which has been devastated by fires for several days. Vučić emphasized that Serbia, due to its size and equipment, is a European giant in terms of firefighting capabilities, noting that helicopters provided by European countries are less capable than Serbia’s. He stated that no one died in the fires, no significant structures were damaged, and only one Polish toilet was burned. Three firefighters were in life-threatening situations after a firestorm passed over them. Vučić highlighted that Serbia has purchased more equipment in the last nine years than in the previous 30 years and pledged to acquire more equipment and personnel if needed. Firefighting teams from the European Union, four helicopters, two from Czech Republic, one from Slovakia, and one from Romania, as well as a Russian aircraft, have assisted Serbia. Vučić warned that the situation might worsen in the future and expressed readiness to procure all necessary resources.

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić declared during his visit to the Deliblatska Pješčara region that Serbia, proportional to its size, has become an “European giant” in terms of equipment for fire suppression. He emphasized that Serbian helicopters used in firefighting are superior to those supplied by European countries, which have less carrying capacity. The remarks were made amid ongoing efforts to contain wildfires that have been burning for several days in the area. The president stated that no one had died in the fires, and no buildings had been damaged, although three firefighters were put in danger after being hit by a wildfire storm. Vučić claimed that only a portable toilet had burned down, contradicting earlier reports suggesting more extensive damage. He further noted that Serbia had acquired more equipment in the last nine years than was purchased over the previous 30 years. Despite this, he acknowledged that while most European countries are less equipped, they benefit from faster response times and effective collaboration among agencies. Firefighters in the region have been working tirelessly against the flames, with support coming from both European Union and Russian sources. On the day before the president’s visit, four Black Hawk helicopters and ground teams arrived from the EU. These included two from the Czech Republic with 13 crew members, one from Slovakia with seven, and one from Romania with four. Additionally, a Russian aircraft, the Iljušin, has been assisting in the firefighting operations. Vučić explained that Serbia initially sought assistance from Russia because specialists required an aircraft with greater payload capacity, which Europe lacked. He claimed that help from both Russia and the EU arrived promptly once requests were made. When asked why it took 13 days to request Russian aid, he responded that Serbia did not wait but instead submitted the request on August 17. “Both Russians and Europeans reacted immediately,” he said, taking responsibility for the decision himself. “I decided. I am to blame, not Đučić or Čaušić. Ivica was never wrong. I am to blame.” Earlier this month, Serbian officials had denied the need for external assistance. Interior Minister Ivica Đučić, on July 7, stated that Spain and France had requested Serbia's help, but Serbia had managed on its own. He added that Serbia had never requested assistance nor needed it. Several days later, on August 16, Vučić himself admitted that help had been offered, though he maintained that “at this moment, it is not needed since we have enough strength and can handle it ourselves.” The situation in Deliblatska Pješčara has been the most severe since the start of the firefighting efforts. According to public company Vojvodinašume, the first fire was recorded on July 21, but the blaze escaped control on May 5. By August 17, the fire had covered 3,960 hectares, of which 3,111 hectares were forest land, and it continued to spread. Firefighters highlighted the challenges posed by inaccessible terrain and strong winds. One firefighter, Vladimir Plemić, explained that due to the difficult terrain, they relied heavily on human power, as the fire had reached deep into the soil and flames reached heights of 30 to 40 meters. Sector Head for Emergency Situations Luka Čaušić stressed the need for new vehicles and helicopters. Vučić agreed, stating that 10 to 12 helicopters would be necessary. Čaušić proposed purchasing smaller helicopters such as the H125. Vučić dismissed claims that the fire had been deliberately set by investors, calling them lies. When asked why he had not visited the fire site earlier, he replied that ministers and the prime minister had been there regularly, and he had been providing daily updates on the situation.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 4 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

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Index.hr logoIndex.hrIndependentProgressiveFactual 88Objective 828/23/2026
Vucic: Serbia is a superpower in firefighting, we have better equipment than the EU

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić claimed during a visit to Deliblatska pješčara that Serbia, despite its size, is an 'European giant' in terms of equipment for fire suppression. He stated that Serbian helicopters are superior to European ones, emphasizing their greater payload capacity. Vučić noted that while most European countries are less equipped, they have advantages in rapid response and cooperation. He acknowledged assistance from both the European Union and Russia, explaining that Serbia initially sought Russian aid due to the need for heavier aircraft. Earlier, Serbian officials had denied the necessity of external help, but Vučić now takes responsibility for delaying requests for assistance. The fire has been ongoing since July 21, affecting over 3,960 hectares, with firefighters facing challenges such as inaccessible terrain and strong winds.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames Serbia's leadership under Vučić as proactive and technologically advanced compared to European counterparts, which aligns with a left-leaning perspective that emphasizes national sovereignty and self-reliance. The emphasis on Serbia's capabilities and the criticism of European and

Why factuality (88): This article provides a detailed account of Vučić’s remarks, including his claim about Serbia being an 'European giant' in firefighting equipment and the involvement of EU and Russian assistance. It includes specific numbers and quotes from the primary source, maintaining consistency with the origin

Why objectivity (82): The article maintains a balanced tone, reporting Vučić’s statements without apparent bias. It presents both the government’s stance and the context of international aid. However, there is a slight emphasis on Serbia’s superiority in firefighting resources, which could be seen as subtly favoring the

N1 Hrvatska logoN1 HrvatskaIndependentConservativeFactual 85Objective 808/23/2026
Vucic: Serbia is a superpower in fire fighting, our helicopters are better than those we got from Europe

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić claimed during a visit to Deliblatska Pješčara that Serbia, proportional to its size, is an 'European giant' in terms of equipment for fire-fighting helicopters. He stated that the helicopters provided by European countries are less capable than Serbia's, noting their lower payload capacity. Vučić emphasized that no one died and no buildings were damaged in the fires, though three firefighters were in danger due to a wildfire storm. He argued that most European countries are less equipped than Serbia for firefighting mechanisms, although they excel in rapid response and cooperation. He announced plans to award firefighters who performed exceptionally well. Recently, four EU-supplied helicopters and Russian aircraft have been deployed to assist in firefighting efforts.

Bias read (Conservative): The article frames Serbia's firefighting capabilities as superior to those of European nations, using strong comparative language ('giant', 'slabiji', 'manju nosivost') and emphasizes national pride and self-reliance. The focus on Serbian superiority over European contributions aligns with a right-w

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reflects the statements made by President Vučić regarding Serbia’s firefighting capabilities compared to European countries. It mentions the procurement of helicopters from Europe, the involvement of Russian aircraft, and the response times from both Russia and the EU. The art

Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, presenting Vučić’s statements without overt bias. However, there is some subtle emphasis on Serbia’s strength and capability, particularly when describing the comparison with European equipment. While not overtly partisan, the framing leans slightly towards portraying Serbi

tportal logotportalIndependentConservativeFactual 85Objective 708/23/2026
Vucic: Serbia is a European firefighting superpower, our helicopters are better than those from Europe

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić claimed that Serbia is a European leader in firefighting equipment, stating that the country's helicopters are superior to those provided by European nations during recent wildfires in Deliblatska Pescara. He emphasized that while many European countries have less advanced firefighting machinery, they excel in rapid response and cooperation. Four helicopters were sent by European countries, two from the Czech Republic and one each from Slovakia and Romania, as well as a Russian aircraft, which Vučić said was necessary due to its greater carrying capacity. No fatalities were reported, though three firefighters faced serious danger from a firestorm. Vučić thanked Russia, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany for their assistance, highlighting Serbia’s ability to receive support from multiple international partners.

Bias read (Conservative): The article presents a strongly nationalistic framing of Serbia's capabilities, emphasizing superiority over European nations and praising Russian military aid. The tone is celebratory of Serbian achievements and leadership, with minimal critical perspective or balanced comparison.

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports Vučić's statements about Serbia being a 'European giant' in firefighting equipment, citing the primary source document. It mentions the specific helicopters from EU countries and Russia, aligning with the source. However, it omits some details like the exact area burne

Why objectivity (70): The article presents Vučić's claims in a relatively neutral manner but uses phrases like 'europska velesila' and emphasizes Serbia's strengths over European counterparts, which could be seen as slightly biased. The tone remains mostly factual but lacks balance by not addressing potential criticisms

Jutarnji list logoJutarnji listIndependentProgressiveFactual 84Objective 788/23/2026
Half of Europe has come to Serbia's aid, Vucic: 'We are a firepower for them'

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić visited the area of Deliblatska Pustinja, which has been devastated by fires for several days. Vučić emphasized that Serbia, due to its size and equipment, is a European giant in terms of firefighting capabilities, noting that helicopters provided by European countries are less capable than Serbia’s. He stated that no one died in the fires, no significant structures were damaged, and only one Polish toilet was burned. Three firefighters were in life-threatening situations after a firestorm passed over them. Vučić highlighted that Serbia has purchased more equipment in the last nine years than in the previous 30 years and pledged to acquire more equipment and personnel if needed. Firefighting teams from the European Union, four helicopters, two from Czech Republic, one from Slovakia, and one from Romania, as well as a Russian aircraft, have assisted Serbia. Vučić warned that the situation might worsen in the future and expressed readiness to procure all necessary resources.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames Serbia's leadership as proactive and capable, emphasizing their comparative advantage in firefighting equipment and international support. The emphasis on Serbia's strength relative to European partners and Russia suggests a nationalistic tone, aligning with left-leaning rhetoric.

Why factuality (84): The article accurately reports Vučić’s comments on Serbia’s firefighting capabilities, the role of EU and Russian assistance, and the situation at Deliblatska peščara. It includes details about the number of helicopters and personnel involved, matching the primary source. Some minor discrepancies in

Why objectivity (78): While the article is generally objective, it contains some emotionally charged language, such as 'pola Europe priskočilo u pomoć Srbiji,' which may imply a sense of gratitude or relief. This could be interpreted as a slight editorial tilt toward highlighting Serbia’s need for external help, even if

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