AGP Executive Report

Operation Storm Commemoration: Serbia marked the 31st anniversary of Croatia’s 1995 “Operation Storm” with PM Djuro Macut calling remembrance a “moral obligation” and President Vučić saying peace is working in Serbia’s favor as Serbs were expelled and killed. Kosovo War-Crimes Trial: Kosovo prosecutors opened an in-absentia case against 21 Serbian ex-officers over the 1999 Reçak massacre, alleging executions of Albanian civilians. Danube Drought & WWII Wrecks: Record-low Danube levels are exposing Nazi-era warships and other vessels near Prahovo, while low water is also disrupting navigation and raising energy concerns across the region. Energy & NIS: Energy Minister Dubravka Djedović Handanović said Serbia is working on a “sustainable solution” for sanctioned NIS, after OFAC extended operating licences to Aug. 28. Diplomacy: Marko Đurić met São Tomé and Príncipe PM Americo Ramos and Uzbekistan officials, stressing support for Serbia’s sovereignty and pushing cooperation ahead of EXPO 2027. FIFA Infantino Fallout: FIFA denied claims that Infantino contacted Donald Trump, as pressure grows after UEFA and multiple national federations withdrew support. Sports: Miomir Kecmanović reached the Montreal Masters second round; Serbia’s Veljko Milosavljevic is highlighted as a rising talent.

Energy & Water Crisis: Record-low Danube levels are forcing emergency power measures across Central and Eastern Europe, with Hungary’s Paks nuclear plant pushed to the brink and Romania blasting a rock in the river to boost cooling water for Cernavodă. Serbia’s River Reality: In Serbia, drought has exposed WWII shipwrecks near Prahovo and is already hitting hydropower output, while authorities warn the next weeks are critical for navigation and electricity. Heatwave Fallout: Wildfires and prolonged drought are straining grids and daily life from Greece to the rest of Europe, as temperatures keep climbing and water supplies tighten. FIFA Turmoil: Pressure on Gianni Infantino grows as UEFA and other federations move toward “non-cooperation” unless he steps down; Serbia has withdrawn support for his re-election bid. Diplomacy & Ties: Serbia’s PM Djuro Macut thanked Sao Tome and Principe for support at the UN, while Serbia and Zimbabwe pledged deeper cooperation after talks in Belgrade. Sports Spotlight: UFC Belgrade’s Uros Medic stunned Daniel Rodriguez in 30 seconds, and Dana White questioned Aleksandar Rakic’s heavyweight future after his first win in years. Civic Life: Student protesters registered the “Student Ticket” association with Serbia’s business registers agency as blockades continue.

Energy & Water Crisis: Serbia’s PM Djuro Macut says the energy situation is “completely stable” but urges rational electricity use as Danube levels stay extremely low; the Emergency Response Headquarters met to coordinate measures, and hydropower output is being squeezed by drought. Hydropower Impact: Serbia’s Iron Gate plants are running far below plan (Iron Gate 1 at about 20%, Iron Gate 2 at 30%), with Danube flow around 1,500 cubic metres per second, pushing Serbia to cut generation and manage reserves. Navigation Watch: Officials say work is underway to keep Danube-Tisa-Danube canal connectivity and maintain navigability despite the drought. Belgrade Politics: Opposition Freedom and Justice leader Dragan Djilas claims the Interior Ministry is blocking audit data on addresses of 133,134 new Serbian citizens granted citizenship from 2020–2025. UCL Draw (Serbian Football): Red Star Belgrade face Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Champions League qualifying playoffs path; if they advance, they’ll meet AGF Aarhus or Sabah, with first legs mid-August. Kosovo War Crimes: Kosovo authorities investigate a suspected second mass grave near Jabuka, days after seven bodies were found in an earlier dig site.

UFC Belgrade Spotlight: Uroš Medić lit up Serbia’s first-ever UFC event in Belgrade with a 30-second knockout of Daniel Rodriguez, while Navajo Stirling crushed Jan Blachowicz in under three minutes; the card set new UFC records for finishes and bonuses, and Medić immediately called out Leon Edwards. Controversial Call: Featherweight Dennis Buzukja blasted referee Jason Herzog after a stoppage loss to Bogdan Grad, saying he never tapped and that the fight was “stolen.” Danube Drought & Power: Serbia’s energy strain is growing as Danube levels hit historic lows; hydro output is being cut, with Djerdap I/II reportedly down to 20–30%, and the wider region faces cooling and generation problems. World War II Remains: Receding Danube waters have exposed a German warship wreck near Prahovo, with experts warning some sunken vessels may still carry ammunition. Wildfire Crisis in Europe: Greece’s firefighting effort turned deadly after two helicopters collided near Athens while battling major blazes, killing two crew members; evacuations were also reported on Kefalonia.

UFC Belgrade Spotlight: Serbia’s first UFC event in Belgrade Arena turned into a record night, with Uroš Medić stopping Daniel Rodriguez in 30 seconds and 10 of 14 bouts ending in the first round, while Navajo Stirling knocked out Jan Blachowicz and Aleksandar Rakić won his heavyweight debut. Kosovo Justice: Kosovo police arrested another Serbian man, J.R., over alleged war crimes against civilians in Zubin Potok; the investigation is ongoing. Transfer Talk (Serbia): Dusan Vlahovic is still reportedly holding out for a Barcelona move despite a major offer from Besiktas, as the striker weighs money against a dream transfer. Local Football (Belgrade): Rangers’ new signing Vanja Dragojevic is being framed as a product of Belgrade’s intense derby culture after his Partizan rise. Regional Climate: Greece battled major wildfires near Athens and ordered evacuations on Kefalonia as drought and heat continue to disrupt parts of Europe.

UFC Belgrade: Serbia’s first-ever UFC card turned into a record night as hometown welterweight Uroš Medić crushed Daniel Rodriguez with a stunning 30-second TKO in the main event, tying UFC history with 10 first-round finishes across the show and sending Medić into welterweight title-talk after four straight first-round stoppages. Co-Main Shock: Light heavyweight contender Navajo Stirling demolished former champion Jan Błachowicz with a first-round TKO, sparking fresh calls for Błachowicz to retire. Other Serbian Moments: Fans also saw debut wins and fast finishes, including Noah Gugnon submitting Milos Janicic and Gilbert Urbina taking out Vlasto Cepo in round one. Culture & Politics Online: A viral Trump banner at the arena sparked backlash and debate, while a separate story tracked how memes and reels are becoming political tools in Serbia.

Kosovo War Remains: Human remains linked to a suspected mass grave in northern Kosovo have been found as authorities search for 23 Albanians abducted in 1998–99; DNA testing is needed and officials say the work could take months, while Kurti urges international pressure for Serbia to open wartime police and military archives. UFC Belgrade: Serbia’s first UFC event is under way at Belgrade Arena with Uroš Medić vs. Daniel Rodriguez as the main event, plus Jan Błachowicz vs. Navajo Stirling and Aleksandar Rakić vs. Marcin Tybura on the card. Energy & Sanctions: The US Treasury issued NIS a special licence to keep operating until Aug. 28 and extend talks with MOL, as negotiations continue over stakes and potential ADNOC involvement. Danube Drought Fallout: Record-low Danube levels are disrupting shipping and exposing wrecks, including a Nazi warship near Serbia; the situation is also hitting nuclear cooling and power output across the region. Wildfires Across Europe: Greece, Spain and France remain in firefighting mode as heat and wind drive fresh flare-ups and evacuations.

Road Safety: A new Europe-wide study ranks Serbia as the most dangerous place for drivers, with 74 road deaths per million people in 2025—followed by Bulgaria (71) and Romania (68), while Norway and Sweden sit at just 19. UFC in Belgrade: UFC’s first-ever Serbia event is set for Saturday at Belgrade Arena, headlined by local star Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez, with Jan Blachowicz vs. Navajo Stirling and Aleksandar Rakic vs. Marcin Tybura also on the card. Energy & Sanctions: The US extended a sanctions waiver for Serbia’s NIS oil firm, letting it keep importing crude until Aug. 28 as talks continue over MOL’s purchase of the Russian majority stake. Regional Talks: Serbian PM Djuro Macut met North Macedonia’s Hristijan Mickoski in Ohrid, focusing on transport links, energy connectivity, agriculture and tourism. Schools Policy: Belgrade school district trustees removed pat-downs and pocket searches from student policy, tightening how searches can be carried out.

Elections & Democracy: Serbia’s Green-Left Front will back the student movement’s election ticket, while ODIHR says a full-capacity election observation mission is needed due to polarization, media issues, and uneven campaign conditions. Kosovo War Crimes: A Pristina court opened the trial of 21 Serb officials, tried in absentia, over the 1999 Racak/Recak massacre that helped trigger NATO intervention. Belgrade & Diplomacy: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed concluded a working visit to Belgrade, including scholarship announcements for Serbian students and renewed push on the comprehensive strategic partnership. Energy & Heat: Serbia braces for a dangerous heatwave with temperatures up to 48°C in direct sun; separately, the dinar-to-euro rate was set at RSD 117.3963. Sports & UEFA: Vojvodina and Zeleznicar were knocked out of UEFA Conference League qualifiers, while Partizan advanced. Danube Drought: Falling water levels exposed a Nazi-era warship wreck near Prahovo, with EU funding aimed at clearing river blockages. UFC Belgrade: Dana White faced backlash after a sharp press-conference response; UFC Belgrade’s main event features Uros Medic vs Daniel Rodriguez.

Danube Drought Crisis: The Danube hit record lows in Budapest, falling to 26cm by Tuesday afternoon, disrupting shipping and tourism and exposing shipwrecks across the region, with Serbia also feeling the strain. UAE-Serbia Ties: President Vučić met UAE leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Belgrade, pledging closer economic cooperation under a comprehensive strategic partnership, including renewables. EU Sports Politics: UEFA confirmed a boycott of FIFA tournaments over Infantino’s private investment plan, while activists in Ireland occupied sport offices to block Israel Nations League matches. Serbian Football on the Move: Hapoel Beersheba beat Vikingur to set up a clash with Red Star Belgrade, while Ajax advanced past Vojvodina 4-1 (8-2 on aggregate) toward a Conference League meeting with Shelbourne. UFC Belgrade Build-Up: Dana White’s Belgrade press remarks went viral as UFC’s first event in Serbia approaches, headlined by Uroš Medic vs Daniel Rodriguez. Heat and Smoke on the Ground: Extreme heat and wildfire smoke are already affecting local produce growth in the region.

Heatwave & Danube Drought: Serbia is bracing for a long, intense heatwave with temperatures up to 40C, while record-low Danube levels are already disrupting shipping, fuel imports, and energy production. Regional Energy Strain: Hungary and Romania have cut nuclear output because cooling water is scarce, with Romania’s Cernavoda reactors facing shutdowns tied to the same hydrological crisis. UAE-Serbia Diplomacy: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Belgrade for a working visit, welcomed by President Aleksandar Vučić, as both sides underline close ties. Kosovo Tensions: Serbia’s FM Marko Đurić says Pristina is increasingly isolated over unilateral moves, while the EU urges both sides to avoid actions that block normalization. Politics at Home: Serbia’s parliament rejected an opposition no-confidence motion against the government, with PM Djuro Macut saying the cabinet will be judged by results. Serbia-Albania Consular Plan: Serbia and Albania agreed in principle to open consular offices in Shkodra and Bujanovac. Football: Red Star Belgrade thrashed Larne 5-0 at home to reach the next UEFA Champions League qualifying round.

Heatwave & Water Crisis: Serbia is bracing for a second major heatwave, with forecasts near 40°C, as drought cuts hydropower output and leaves the Danube at historic lows—disrupting shipping, fuel imports, and cooling for power plants. Energy Pressure: Low river levels have already forced capacity reductions across the region, including impacts on Serbia’s largest hydropower plant. Belgrade Sports: Red Star Belgrade crushed Larne 5-0 (9-0 on aggregate) in Champions League qualifying, with Marko Arnautović scoring twice and Osman Bukari adding a late finish. Public Safety & Crime: Kennebec County deputies in Belgrade, Maine, are investigating an armed robbery at a licensed marijuana grow operation where a couple was tied up at gunpoint and cannabis and cash were stolen. Politics at Home: Opposition MPs challenged President Aleksandar Vučić’s possible bid for prime minister during Serbia’s no-confidence debate, while the ruling majority said no decision has been made. Football & Europe: UEFA Conference League second legs continue this week, with Serbia’s clubs watching closely as qualifiers shape up.

Energy & Industry: Serbia Zijin Copper says it delivered 17 tons of gold to the National Bank of Serbia in 7.5 years, with 164 gold ingots (2,057 kg) delivered in H1 2026. Renewables: Serbia commissioned about 61 MW of solar in the first half of 2026, but grid-connection and permitting delays remain a bottleneck. Politics & Security: U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson urges Serbia to cut dependence on Russian energy and distance from Moscow, Beijing and Tehran, pushing to move the 2027 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly from Belgrade to South Carolina. Foreign Policy: Serbia and Azerbaijan held bilateral consultations in Belgrade, stressing cooperation in economy, infrastructure, energy and culture. Economy & Daily Life: The dinar-to-euro rate is 117.4119 RSD per euro. Sports & Culture: UFC president Dana White met President Vučić ahead of UFC Fight Night in Belgrade on Aug. 1, with tickets sold out in 22 minutes; meanwhile, Bosilegrad opened the international folk festival Horo Se Vie.

EU Media Row: The EU says Serbia and Montenegro are breaching EU membership standards by blocking journalists, after Montenegro barred an Informer editor and Serbia responded with reciprocal restrictions; Brussels warns both governments that media bans are incompatible with EU expectations. Diplomacy Appointments: Serbia is among countries getting new ambassadors, as the Council of Ministers approved fresh diplomatic postings including to Ukraine, Latvia, Panama and Serbia. EU Path Politics: In Serbia’s parliament, the EU integration minister said the government is pushing reforms and pointed to a new European Commission recommendation for opening Cluster 3. Water Crisis Response: Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić chaired an emergency hydrological meeting over historically low Danube levels, urging continuous monitoring and coordinated action to protect the Danube-Tisa-Danube hydrosystem. Serbia-Azerbaijan Ties: Parliamentary leaders met Azerbaijan’s deputy foreign minister, highlighting cooperation potential in IT, AI and energy and noting Azerbaijan’s planned EXPO 2027 participation in Belgrade. Sports—UFC & Tennis: Bogdan Guskov issued his first statement after a UFC Abu Dhabi main-event loss to Magomed Ankalaev, while Djokovic and Sabalenka headline the US Open mixed doubles entry list. Football Transfers: Zeleznicar Pancevo signed Ghana forward Kwaku Karikari permanently from AC Horsens for €600,000.

Wildfire Aid: Serbia’s Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic says Serbian firefighters and a Super Puma helicopter will head to Spain after Madrid accepted Belgrade’s help in battling major wildfires. EU Media Rights: The European Commission warns it is concerned about reciprocal entry bans affecting journalists from Serbia and Montenegro, saying restrictions on media work clash with EU values expected of candidate countries. Politics & Elections: Opposition MP Danijela Nestorovic says the government scheduled a no-confidence debate only now to kick off the election campaign, calling it a “display of power.” No-Confidence Debate: Ivica Dacic says the Socialists are ready for presidential and parliamentary elections and dismisses the no-confidence sitting as political performance. Foreign Policy & Diplomacy: Foreign Minister remarks mark World War I’s lesson that diplomacy must come first, as Serbia’s region remembers the 1914 start of the war. Economy Watch: The dinar’s official median rate is 117.4261 per euro, with the dollar rate at 102.8231. Sports—Serbian Football Abroad: Dusan Tadic explains he spoke with Jordi Cruijff about Ajax coaching but chose NEC for its project and staff. Sports—Serbian Talent: Ghanaian striker Kwaku Karikari completes a record 600,000-euro permanent move to Zeleznicar Pancevo. Tennis: Djokovic and Sabalenka are set to headline the revamped US Open mixed doubles entry list. Climate Warning: UN climate chief Simon Stiell says the “climate alarm is blaring” as record wildfires and heatwaves hit Europe.

Serbia–China Cooperation: Serbian and Chinese officials pledged deeper ties in AI, green technology and innovation at a Belgrade conference, framing the partnership as a shift from mining to “data mining.” EU Accession Team: Ljiljana Jevtovic was named Serbia’s deputy chief negotiator for EU accession talks, with Danijel Apostolovic already serving as chief negotiator. Politics at Home: Parliament opened a no-confidence debate against the government led by PM Djuro Macut, with the opposition pushing the motion and Macut saying the cabinet deserves to win. Economy & Money Promises: Radio Free Europe discussed Vučić’s promised €600m one-off cash relief, including whether a budget rebalance or extra debt is needed. Belgrade Culture: BELEF’s 33rd Summer Festival (29 July–13 August) announced concerts at Princess Ljubica’s Residence, including free “FMU at BELEF” events. Sports—Red Star: Red Star host Larne in Champions League qualifying after a 4-0 first-leg win, aiming to reach the next round. Sports—Djokovic: Novak Djokovic climbed two spots to No. 5 in the ATP rankings. UFC Belgrade Update: UFC Belgrade scrapped a fight after Johnny Walker’s opponent couldn’t be replaced, reshaping the August 1 card. Public Safety: A human trafficking attempt at Islamabad airport was foiled, with suspects allegedly planning to reach Europe via the Baku–Serbia route.