Russia's Role in the Kosovo Conflict of 1999

DOI: 10.1080/03071840801984615 Introduction In the spring and summer of 1999, NATO undertook its second major military operation: Operation Allied Force, air operations in reaction to the Serbian ethnic cleansing of the Kosovar Albanians. Russia took no direct part in Operation Allied Force, but by late 1999, Russian forces were a component of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), stationed throughout Kosovo. Prior to that, Russian involvement in the conflict can be seen to have had two aspects: its seizure of Slatina airport at Pristina, and its influence on Milosevic. This topic is of interest because it may have relevance to Russian motives and actions in the current situation in the Balkans. This article considers the above two aspects of Russian involvement, and draws conclusions.