In response to Serbia’s request, the President of Russia instructed Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu to take the necessary measures to provide Serbia with immediate help in extinguishing the fires.
The Russian head of state had received a message from Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica asking for help in extinguishing forest fires in that country. In part, the message emphasises that these fires have created a crisis situation that is causing great damage as well as threatening the lives and health of Serbian citizens.