An explosion has severely damaged a canal in Kosovo that supplies water to two key power plants, which generate the majority of the country’s electricity. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has described the explosion as a “terrorist attack” carried out by Serbia, although he has not provided evidence to support his claim.
The explosion occurred on Friday near the town of Zubin Potok, situated around 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the Serbian border, cutting off the vital water flow required to cool the power plants. This disruption has raised concerns that much of the country could experience a power outage by the weekend.
Prime Minister Kurti immediately accused Serbia of orchestrating the attack, describing it as a targeted assault on “critical infrastructure” by “professional gangs” allegedly operating under Serbia’s direction. However, Serbia has firmly denied the accusation, with Foreign Minister Marko Djuric condemning the claims as “premature” and a “deliberate diversion.”
Local media published images showing significant water leakage from the canal, which runs from the Serb-majority north of Kosovo to the capital, Pristina, and also supplies drinking water. Faruk Mujka, the head of the water company Iber Lepenci, confirmed that an explosive device had been thrown into the canal, damaging a bridge. No immediate injuries were reported.
As a result of the damage, the water supply had to be halted to repair the canal and prevent further disruptions to the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK), the country’s primary power provider. Serbia has expressed its readiness to offer financial and technical support to help fix the damage, emphasizing its commitment to the welfare of all people in the region, regardless of their ethnicity or political affiliation.
Kosovo authorities had already heightened security in the region due to earlier grenade attacks on a police station and municipal building in northern Kosovo, home to many ethnic Serbs. It remains unclear whether these incidents are connected.
The United States embassy in Pristina condemned the explosion as a “criminal attack” and expressed full support for Kosovo’s government in identifying those responsible. The European Union’s ambassador to Kosovo, Aivo Orav, highlighted that the attack had already resulted in significant disruptions to the region’s water supply.
Kosovo declared independence in 2008, nearly a decade after an uprising against Serbian rule. However, tensions remain, particularly in the north, where the Serb minority refuses to recognize Kosovo’s independence and continues to regard Belgrade as its capital. The situation has worsened in recent months, with the Kosovo government seeking to dismantle a parallel system of services and offices backed by Belgrade to cater to the Serb community.
