Reports about YouTubers' Batajnica airport break-in are a media spin - Serbian MoD

BELGRADE - In response to recent media reports and published video footage claiming that foreign YouTubers have "broken into" the Batajnica military airport, the Serbian Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that, for the sake of petty political gains, certain media outlets and individuals were scrambling to produce sensationalist stories about a "military base break-in," and noted that such an interpretation did not reflect the actual state of affairs.

"In order to keep the public fully and accurately informed, we wish to highlight facts that have, deliberately or otherwise, been omitted from media reports to date," the MoD said in a statement.

"​The Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlovic Air Base is a military complex surrounded by nearly 15 km of security fencing. This area is divided into several zones that serve different purposes and are guarded in accordance with their importance levels.

The released footage was filmed in a separate and fenced off section of the complex where no activities involving personnel or equipment belonging to the units stationed at the air base are conducted. The area is partially open to allow easy access to civilian contractors carrying out groundworks and preparing the site for the construction of new infrastructure facilities.

The area shown in the video is, among other things, scheduled for adaptation and repurposing in the coming period. The aircraft shown in the footage are decommissioned airplanes and helicopters that are no longer in service or used for any missions by the Air Force and Air Defence of the Serbian Armed Forces," it said.

"​This was an unauthorized entry into an area fenced off from the operational section of the airfield. Since the area in question is no longer in service, it is not provided with physical or technical security. While certain media outlets and individuals have rushed to construct sensationalist stories about a 'military base break-in' and an alleged threat to the Serbian Armed Forces’ capabilities for cheap political points, such interpretation does not reflect the actual situation on the ground. Creating the impression that the individuals shown in the footage gained access to active combat aircraft or to an area where units conduct their key activities, is a media spin.

We call on the public and the media to refrain from sensationalizing incidents like this and to report responsibly, accurately, and in accordance with verified facts.

​In order to report responsibly, one must be able to make a clear distinction between operationally critical military areas and sections that are in the process of being rearranged, reconfigured, or repurposed," it said.

"The fact remains that, despite clearly displayed warning signs, certain individuals entered a fenced-off area where entry is prohibited and potentially hazardous. Legal action has been taken against them, including criminal charges under Article 416 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Serbia.

​We emphasise that this incident has in no way compromised the operational capabilities of the units stationed at the air base, nor has it disrupted their normal operations.

The Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlovic Air Base is a military complex of critical importance to the Serbian Armed Forces, which is why the protection of its operational assets and infrastructure and the safety of its personnel are given the highest priority," it concluded.

Some media outlets have reported that a group of individuals behind the Roofless TV YouTube channel had published a video on the platform in which they claimed they had broken into the military airport.