RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT LANDS IN NIŠ TO HELP FIGHT FIRE IN DELIBLATO SANDS

NIŠ, AUGUST 19 /SRNA/ - An Ilyushin aircraft belonging to the Russian Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters landed at Constantine the Great Airport in Niš tonight and will be deployed to help fight the wildfire in Deliblato Sands, Serbia’s Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said.

"Starting tomorrow, the Ilyushin will take part in firefighting operations in Deliblato Sands, in coordination with the Helicopter Unit of the Serbia’s Ministry of Interior," Dačić posted on Instagram.

He stressed that the Russian aircraft can drop up to 42 tonnes of water in a single pass, making it one of the most powerful operational firefighting aircraft, particularly given that the EU Civil Protection Mechanism does not currently have firefighting aircraft of this capacity available.

"At major fire sites, such as Deliblato Sands, its role is to cover a large affected area within a short period of time and enable firefighters on the ground to bring the fire under control more easily," Dačić said.

More than a dozen wildfires remain active across Serbia, with the most serious hotspots including Mount Stolovi near Kraljevo and Deliblato Sands.