European Union member nations and Russia are providing crucial aerial support to Serbia as it battles significant wildfires that have raged for weeks, intensified by extreme heat and drought conditions gripping the Balkans.

Helicopters and firefighters from EU countries are collaborating with Serbian teams to contain a large blaze in Deliblatska Pescara, a protected nature reserve near the capital, Belgrade. Simultaneously, a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 water-bombing aircraft has been instrumental in bringing a separate fire in the southwestern Stolovi mountain range under control.

State media reported that a total of 168 tonnes of water have been deployed across the two affected areas, with 126 tonnes directed at the Deliblatska Pescara fire and 42 tonnes on the Stolovi blaze. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic characterized the situation as "extremely difficult," with over 400 personnel actively engaged daily.

President Aleksandar Vucic stated that Serbia sought external assistance from both the EU and Russia once it became apparent that domestic resources were insufficient. He emphasized that the request for aid was immediate upon realizing the limitations of their own forces.

Although Serbia is not an EU member, it is eligible to request assistance through the bloc's Civil Protection Mechanism, a system designed for pooling emergency resources during disasters. The formal request for help was submitted on Friday. The EU's contribution includes four Black Hawk helicopters from Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, alongside ground teams and vehicles from Germany and Romania.

Some aerial assets were operational over the weekend, with the remaining deployments, including a German ground team, scheduled to arrive by Monday. This mutual aid system has seen reciprocal actions this summer, with Serbia previously dispatching a firefighting helicopter and response team to Spain during a period of intense blazes that strained the EU's own firefighting capabilities.

The current wildfire season across the Balkans is largely attributed to an unusually hot and dry summer, creating highly flammable conditions. Neighboring North Macedonia is also experiencing fires, with a blaze near Strumica reportedly causing damage to at least one home. A farmer near one of these fires described the inferno as "devouring everything," noting the challenges posed by strong winds that hampered aerial firefighting efforts.

Further south, a significant fire spanning 16 kilometers of difficult terrain between Bosnia and Croatia forced the closure of a key road linking Trebinje to the Croatian tourist city of Dubrovnik. This incident stranded thousands of travelers and necessitated the evacuation of nearby villages, with Croatian firefighters assisting in containment efforts across the border.