# Serbia wildfires expand amid criticism of state response > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/serbian-fire-response-with-super-puma > Updated: 2026-08-26T10:31:00.000Z. Sources: 57. Developments: 7. By late August, the wildfire situation in Serbia escalated as the blaze in the Deliblatska Peščara special nature reserve surpassed 4,000 hectares of burned area. This expansion has triggered intense criticism of the government’s emergency response, with experts describing the state’s reaction as “slow and unorganized.” Critics noted that international aid from Russia and the EU was only requested after nearly a month of active burning. While officials like Miloš Vučević denied claims that the fires were intentionally set to facilitate wind farm construction, local groups such as the Bravo movement have demanded immediate budget allocations for firefighting equipment and resident aid. Political tensions have risen following an announcement by the High Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade to prosecute citizens for sharing “falsehoods” or information that incites panic on social media. Legal experts have condemned this move as an attempt to suppress criticism of the state’s crisis management. To combat the blazes, the Russian Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft remains active across multiple regions. On Stolovi Mountain, firefighting is hindered by thick smoke, strong winds, and difficult terrain, though the aircraft has dropped 714 tons of water in that area. The aircraft has also been deployed to the Deliblato Sands and near Lukovo, close to Vranje. In Lukovo, emergency services protected ten houses, though one weekend house was destroyed and one elderly resident was evacuated. As the region faces a long-term ecological crisis, Environmental Minister Sara Pavkov stated that a comprehensive five-year restoration plan is being prepared in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture. Once the fire is officially declared extinguished, licensed engineers will begin a ten-day monitoring period to assess damage. ## Claims - An Il-76 aircraft with a crew and an operational group was sent to Serbia. (corroborated by 27 sources) - Serbia requested Russian assistance due to the critical worsening of the fire situation and threats to settlements. (corroborated by 22 sources) - The Il-76 firefighting aircraft has a capacity of up to 42,000 liters of water. (corroborated by 14 sources) - The deployment of the Il-76 aircraft was ordered by President Vladimir Putin. (corroborated by 13 sources) - The Russian aircraft landed at Niš Airport. (corroborated by 11 sources) - The Russian aircraft flew through Bulgarian airspace to reach Serbia. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The fire in the Deliblatska Peščara reserve has consumed more than 3,500 hectares. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Serbia's Ministry of Interior stated that EU aircraft with similar capacity were unavailable. (corroborated by 6 sources) - International assistance from the EU and Russia was requested after nearly a month of the fire burning. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Serbia sent an H‑215 Super Puma helicopter with a five‑person crew to Spain for wildfire fighting. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-26: Deliblatska peščara faces long-term recovery after massive forest fire The Deliblatska peščara in Serbia faces a long-term ecological recovery process after a fire damaged up to 5,000 hectares. Experts warn that forest restoration may take decades. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/deliblatska-peara-recovery-to-take-decades-after-massive-wildfire ### 2026-08-22: Deliblatska Peščara wildfire burns over 4,000 hectares in Serbia A massive wildfire in Serbia's Deliblatska Peščara has burned over 4,000 hectares, sparking criticism of the state's slow response and legal threats against citizens reporting on the disaster. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bravo-movement-urges-novi-sad-to-fund-deliblato-sands-wildfire-relief ### 2026-08-20: Deliblatska Peščara wildfire produces fire tornado A fire tornado was documented in Grebenac within the Deliblatska Peščara region as wildfires reach a peak, complicating firefighting efforts amidst extreme heat. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/deliblatska-peara-wildfire-produces-fire-tornado ### 2026-08-19: Russia deploys Il-76 aircraft to Serbia to fight forest fires Russia has sent an Il-76TD firefighting aircraft to Serbia to combat massive forest fires in the Deliblatska Peščara reserve after EU resources were unavailable. 37 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russia-sends-il-76-aircraft-to-serbia-to-fight-forest-fires ### 2026-08-02: Serbian Firefighters Redeployed to Combat Wildfires in Spain Serbian fire‑rescue team of 40, 17 vehicles and a Super Puma helicopter was shifted from Zamora to Ponferrada to aid Spanish and other international crews fighting wildfires under the EU civil‑protection scheme 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/serbian-firefighters-redeployed-to-combat-wildfires-in-spain ### 2026-07-28: Serbia Deploys Super Puma Helicopter and Firefighters to Spain for Wildfire Relief Serbia sent a Super Puma helicopter, 37 firefighters, a medical team and 16 vehicles to Spain via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to combat severe wildfires, joining a nine‑aircraft international effort. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/serbia-deploys-firefighters-and-super-puma-helicopter-to-aid-spains-forest-fires ### 2026-07-25: Deliblatska Peščara wildfire prompts helicopter response in Serbia A wildfire in Serbia's Deliblatska Peščara burned over five hectares; 13 firefighters and a Super Puma helicopter were deployed, with no injuries or property damage. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/deliblatska-peara-wildfire-prompts-helicopter-response-in-serbia --- Cite as: Serbia wildfires expand amid criticism of state response. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/serbian-fire-response-with-super-puma