Pro-Russian and far-right Telegram channels in the Western Balkans have circulated the coordinates of Camp Bondsteel, the largest U.S. military base in Kosovo, amid heightened tensions following the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Since February 28, channels with tens of thousands of followers have shared maps of the base near Uroševac, along with messages framing it as a potential target. Posts included commentary such as “This is the greatest threat to Iran right now” and images of Iranian ballistic missile ranges with Kosovo highlighted.
One Serbian-language channel, “Bunt je stanje duha” (“Rebellion is a state of mind”), posted Bondsteel’s coordinates on March 1, noting: “They say we are extremists and should be ashamed for wanting Bondsteel in flames.” The post had nearly 18,000 views by the time of reporting.
Most of these channels emerged after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and are explicitly pro-Russian, frequently criticizing Western cooperation while monitoring developments in the Middle East in real time.
The U.S. and Israel launched attacks on key Iranian military and leadership targets on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to U.S. President Donald Trump, who also said 48 Iranian leaders were killed and suggested operations could continue for four weeks. Iran retaliated with strikes on U.S. and allied forces and civilian sites in Israel, the Persian Gulf, and beyond, while Israel targeted Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.
Other Telegram channels have echoed calls for strikes on Bondsteel, sometimes framing it in ethnically charged rhetoric. The channel “Koridor,” with 11,000 followers, claimed it would only report major war news if Bondsteel were hit, while providing coordinates and noting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence. Similar posts appeared on channels including “Сербский Вестник,” “Srpska Sparta Info,” and “Bunker,” collectively reaching over 50,000 followers. The coordinates were also shared on Facebook and X, including in groups like “Serbs and Russians, brothers forever” and “Orthodox Monasteries and Churches.”
Experts say the posts do not represent a credible military threat. Jeta Ljošaj, a researcher at the Kosovo Center for Security Studies, told RFE/RL that Iran lacks the capacity to strike Kosovo or wider Europe. However, she warned that the coordinated sharing of base coordinates fits a familiar pattern of disinformation aimed at sowing anxiety, deepening societal divisions, and undermining confidence in security institutions.
“The deliberate dissemination of coordinates and dramatic framing is intended to heighten unease and reinforce perceptions of instability in this part of Europe,” Ljošaj said. She emphasized that Kosovo authorities, in coordination with KFOR, should continue assessing vulnerabilities and consider long-term strategic planning for defensive capabilities.
Ivana Stradner, a fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the impact of pro-Russian Telegram narratives in the Western Balkans is already visible. She noted that these channels not only amplify anti-Western propaganda but also polarize societies, with significant portions of the Serbian population expressing opposition to the EU despite substantial assistance from the bloc.