Pristina, December 01, 2024
Honorable Minister Rizvanolli,
Honorable media representatives,
Honorable citizens,
Over the past two days, we have undertaken a series of measures to identify and hold accountable the perpetrators of the terrorist and criminal attack, on one hand, and to minimize damage to infrastructure and prevent disruption of basic service supply for the citizens of Kosovo, on the other.
The weight of the consequences of this attack, if it had achieved its goal, would have been staggering.
This attack aimed to cause irreparable damage to the critical infrastructure of the Republic of Kosovo, endangering national security and disrupting the lives of all citizens of our country. If the goal were achieved, this terrorist attack would potentially cause for weeks:
– interruption of energy production from the Kosovo B Power Plant, leaving more than half of Kosovo’s population without electricity, and 130,000 Pristina residents without heating;
– furthermore, we would have an interruption in the water supply to the water plants in Shkabaj, Drenas, Shipol, and Balincë, leaving over 300,000 citizens without water in South Mitrovica, Skenderaj, Vushtrri, North Mitrovica, Zvečan, Drenas, Fushë Kosovë, and Obiliq, and risking the supply for over 300,000 more in Pristina; and,
– For several weeks, there could be a potential loss of electricity, thereby putting other essential services that rely on electricity, like telecommunications, at risk.
The direct financial damages solely from the need to import energy supply would be at least 2.5 million euros per day and an additional 100 thousand euros per day for water. The direct financial damages and the disruption of economic activity would be extraordinary, but their aim was to cause harm that goes far beyond even the economic aspect: the disruption of citizens’ lives and health and the endangerment of our national security.
The issue wasn’t only the water, but the electricity too. Not just electricity, but also heating. Not only heating, but also telecommunications. The aim has been for a large part of our country to be left without water, in darkness, in the cold, and without communication in December.
Both in terms of timing and the nature of the act itself, this attack seems to be linked to the massive air strikes by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. These attacks were specifically directed against the energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
A day prior to the assault in Varagë, Zubin Potok, on November 28, Russian military forces launched an attack on Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure using 188 rocket and drone projectiles, resulting in approximately 1 million households being left without power, just as winter approached. The goal is to bring the population below the minimum living conditions, thereby harming the health, life, and safety of the citizens.
At the same time, we have the attack on the municipal building in Zveçan and the attacks in Ukraine. In Zveçan, two days before this, we had the attack against the police station and now recently the critical infrastructure also in the north of Kosovo as in Ukraine.
To further highlight this connection is the fact that during inspections conducted by the Kosovo Police at various locations following the terrorist attack, in addition to numerous weapons and military equipment, dozens of emblems of Russian military units were found. These emblems primarily belong to units specialized in conducting special military operations, such as the case of the emblems of the Paratrooper Assault Force of the Armed Forces of Russia. In addition to the military emblems, imperial Russian wing flags were also found during yesterday’s inspections, a flag used by Tsarist Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries—thus during the period when Russian imperialism experienced significant historical expansion.
All of these can be seen on the screen in this photo. Thus, a large number of emblems from Russia, in addition to weapons, ammunition, uniforms, and other equipment, have been found and seized.
Serbia is adopting Russian methods to threaten Kosovo and our region in general. Nevertheless, this effort is destined to fail, as Kosovo relies on Western democratic values that have strengthened us internally and have fortified our partnership externally with regional, strategic, European, and American allies.
This collaboration and commitment of Kosovo towards security, peace, and sustainable stability will triumph over any attempt at destabilization. Kosovo is an example for the region and beyond in how it treats minority or non-majority communities, and for its democratic institutions. The freedom and democracy prevailing in Kosovo testify to our commitment to the principles of equality and justice. It is not coincidental that, according to Freedom House, it is precisely our Republic that has marked the greatest advancement in the region, the second in Europe, and the third in the world for the improvement of political rights and civil liberties.
Citizens of Kosovo, both north and south of the Ibar, must trust the security institutions which are committed to serving all citizens without distinction. The institutions of Kosovo have shown that they are willing and capable, as well as ready, to protect citizens and maintain democratic order by representing a system that works in the interest of everyone and leaves no one behind.
Honorable citizens,
For a while now, our nation has been the target of different types of Hybrid Warfare. In September 2022, we experienced cyber attacks targeting the websites of institutions with the aim of disabling them. In September 2023, we experienced the paramilitary attack in Banjskë, which aimed at annexing the northern part of our country. In addition to the ongoing disinformation aimed at undermining trust in public and security institutions and disorienting citizens, the Hybrid War against our country has now been compounded by a kinetic attack targeting critical infrastructure with the aim of disrupting or hindering essential services and disturbing social, civic, institutional, and economic life.
However, in each case, we have emerged victorious because our state is both strong and just. Even in the most recent case, the state has been asked for a quick response, organization, and professionalism from all institutions and public enterprises to ensure essential services and to cope with such emergency situations. Over the past two days, public institutions and enterprises have demonstrated that they are once again and consistently on top of their duties, for which we are endlessly grateful and appreciative.
Before giving the floor to Minister Rizvanolli, it is clear that the free and active presence of the chief criminal Milan Radoiçiq in Serbia is the truth about Serbia, which is trying to place all its neighbors who are not members of the European Union in conditions of tension and risk of destabilization.
The release of Milan Radoiçiq in Serbia, besides being an open protection of a terrorist by the Serbian authorities, also serves as an encouragement for others to commit terrorist and criminal acts in Kosovo. This stance conveys a clear message that such actions are not only tolerated there but also supported by the Serbian state. Following the attack in Banjskë, there have been additional attacks, including the recent terrorist act in the Ibër-Lepenc channel in Zubin Potok, and these incidents demonstrate that Serbia has not taken any measures to prevent terrorism. Conversely, her actions promote instability in the region. Serbia continues to support terrorist groups with weapons, finances, and logistics.
Furthermore, the spread of hate speech and the continuous threats of war and military return create a climate that facilitates terrorist attacks. This strategy is an attempt to maintain high tensions and undermine the security and stability of Kosovo and the region.
However, despite these dark tendencies and ambitions, the Republic of Kosovo, our democratic state with all its governmental mechanisms, is dedicated to the well-being of its citizens and their rights, regardless of ethnicity or religion, and irrespective of geography, meaning their place of residence.
Now, for some of the activities undertaken during these 48 hours to ensure the continuity of essential services for citizens and regarding the current situation, I invite the Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, to take the floor.
Full opening speech of the Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli:
Honorable Prime Minister,
Honorable media representatives,
Honorable citizens,
Over the past two days, while security institutions have been working to bring the perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Zubin Potok to justice and providing protection for critical infrastructure, the focus of public enterprises, the Ministry of Economy, and other institutions such as the Emergency Management Agency has been on emergency solutions to ensure regular supply of energy and water.
Upon receiving the news about the attack on the channel, we had an immediate mobilization of all relevant institutions and enterprises. “Ibër Lepenc” teams, together with the Kosovo Police, reached the site and within a record time, only seven hours after the attack, executed a temporary solution to allow the water to flow in the channel.
Meanwhile, together with KEK, we have explored cooling alternatives for the “Kosova B” Power Plant. For several hours, with the support of the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and regional water supply companies, we at KEK had numerous water tankers prepared to provide extra supply for the Power Plant. Cooling water reservoirs at KEK and water flows in the channel have been monitored throughout the night, ensuring optimal management of energy capacities. Meanwhile, KEK has secured capacities ranging from 120 to 150 MW from the Albanian Power Corporation (KESH) for 12 hours to cover needs in case the situation escalates and there is a need to shut down the power plant blocks. After two o’clock in the morning, the technical teams of “Ibër Lepenc” managed to install six temporary pipes, starting with a water flow of 1,500 m3 per hour, which is less than ⅓ of the channel’s usual capacity. In this instance, our absolute priority was to ensure a sufficient amount of water for the “Kosova B” power plant, while it was necessary to halt the water supply to the factories supplied by “Ibër Lepenci”, which the Prime Minister mentioned earlier. As a result, within the first 36 hours following the attack, there have been complete or partial reductions in the municipalities of the Prishtina and Mitrovica regions, which were also mentioned by the Prime Minister. To ensure that citizens in those areas have access to drinking or sanitary water, by three o’clock on the night of the attack, we had a map of the affected areas and a plan to ensure that all impacted municipalities are supplied with water tankers: one in Drenas, Skenderaj, Zveçan, Fushë Kosovë, North Mitrovica, and three in South Mitrovica.
Last night, around 24 hours after the attack, the water supply at KEK reached an optimal level, while “Ibër Lepenci” began to gradually increase the water flow in the channel, enabling the start of water supply to the water plants, first in Balincë and Shipol last night, and early this morning in Shkabaj and Drenas. Currently, as we speak, all water plants are operational and the water supply has been restored in all municipalities.
The incident involving the attack on the “Ibër Lepenc” channel highlighted that the safety of water and energy supply is a crucial aspect of national security, and compromising these essential services threatens the welfare of citizens, economic activities, and national security.
However, the response of our institutions made another thing clear: the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo and our public enterprises are prepared to face such threats, ensuring that the supply of water and energy was restored quickly and without widespread consequences for the citizens.
On this occasion, I would like to deeply thank the teams of “Ibër Lepenc”, KEK, the regional water supply companies, AME, the firefighting teams, and of course the Police, and security institutions, for their unparalleled mobilization and commitment, which has helped us successfully overcome the critical moments following the largest ever attack on our critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, “Ibër Lepenci” is continuing its work with experts and with the support of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure to carry out the long-term repair of the channel, while monitoring 24/7 together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and security institutions the location where the attack occurred and the water flow there, to ensure that the emergency technical solution implemented is sustainable until a long-term solution is found and implemented.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Albanian Power Corporation (KESH) for their readiness to assist us during those difficult times.
And finally, I will conclude with a reminder, which by now is customary, especially during the winter months. Phenomena like this are extraordinary, but on the other hand, as long as the war in Ukraine continues and the security and geopolitical situation is so sensitive, the supply and pricing of electricity in the market will always be a potential problem. As in the past months and years, we urge citizens and businesses to be as cautious as possible in saving electricity and optimizing the use of electrical energy. Every small measure helps not only in overcoming current challenges but also in strengthening the resilience of our country for the future.
Thank you!
Last modified: December 3, 2024