Interesting details of when Russian forces took control of the Slatine airport

During the 1999 NATO bombings in Yugoslavia, Victor Chernomerdin was the special representative of Russia's President, Boris Jelcen, for Yugoslavia. He, too, was formerly Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

He had shown interesting details about how Russian forces took control of the Slatina airport, and according to him, this operation was conducted at the order of Russian President Boris Jelcin.

The “in the then situation, a lasting impression, caused everyone -- lightning march to Kosovo, the Desanation Brigade, part of Bosnia's peacekeeping forces. At night between June 11th and 12th, in the darkness of the night, a desanation battalion consisting of 16 motorised carriers and 20 vehicles, suddenly broke away from its position and crossed the Bosnian Yugoslav border. He literally marched through Yugoslav territory to Kosovo, making 430 miles per seven and a half hours, and took positions close to the most important strategic object, the Slatina airport, in the vicinity of Pristina, causing both uncertainty and surprise to the NATO side“, relates in his confession, Crnomerdin.

He further points out that “Habi, because the disposal took place at lightning speed. Uncertainty because, in the negotiations, there was no mention of the brigade dam. There were about 1,300 Russian peacekeepers in Bosnia. Dislocating a battalion of two hundred, with weapons and related equipment, is no small task. Moreover, the presence was controlled by the international command, while Yugoslav territory was under constant surveillance“.

Showing the background for this operation, he also mentioned former Russian President Boris Jelzin.

The next day in Brussels and Washington, panic reigned, the phones stopped, among others, by the US leadership. When the NATO situation and troops were clarified, they were moving towards Kosovo, then it was late, the Russian detectives had seized the airport, where, according to NATO scenario, the British general's command post had to be deployed. All British and French military attempts, to deter our detectives, brought nothing. The cold Russian detectives blocked the street and prevented the British military from coming in. The processing and implementation of the operation were really unusual. That's why we have to avenge our General Staff soldiers. The operation was concluded with the country's Chief Commander of Armed Forces, president of the Russian Federation B.N. Jelly. Undisputed is the fact that the Yugoslav military leadership had immediately granted approval for the passage of the Russian troop convoy through its territory”.