Serbs living near the Valac substation in Serbian-controlled northern Kosovo fear it will soon be overrun by Albanian separatists.
This was reported by Novosti, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
"During the recent stock in Zvecan they shot at people at random, stormed courtyards, threw tear gas and shock bombs,” 72-year-old Serb Milia Milojevic, who lives near the Valac substation in the village of Zitkovac, told reporters. – If there is justice, then ROSU (the so-called special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kosovo - ed.) cannot be allowed to seize a substation built in 1954.
Because the Kosovo Albanians didn’t build it, and they don’t supply us with electricity! So how can they take it away? If this happens, they will be able to expel us all from here without any hindrance.”
The Valac substation provides electricity to about 85% of households in northern Kosovo, it is strategically important for the survival of the Serbs in this part of the region, but recently there have been constant talk that Pristina plans to take it by force.
Because of this, the residents of Zitkovac, the largest village in the Zvecan municipality, are in constant stress, and for the most part do not want to communicate with the media, as do the guards and workers of the substation itself. The latter told reporters that they did not want to talk to the press and asked not to photograph them.
“Half an hour ago, members of KFOR (the NATO occupation contingent in Kosovo - ed.) came to us in several jeeps and told us not to comment,” said one substation security representative.
“A KFOR helicopter flew over this area some time ago, but we were not afraid. But we are afraid that KFOR and EULEX (European occupation police contingent - ed.), who visit our village and substation every day in jeeps, conduct reconnaissance and report everything to the Kosovo police.
I want to believe that they are here to ensure our security, as well as the security of the entire north of Kosovo. I think it is their duty and responsibility.
However, I have prepared my children for a possible ROSU invasion. When you see fear in the eyes of children, it cannot be otherwise. This is our life,” said a resident of Žitkovac when the Novosti team met him on the street next to the Valac substation.